President Joko Widodo (center), accompanied by (from left) Maluku governor Said Assegaff, Press Council head Yosep Adi Prasetyo, Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) head Margiono and Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara, bangs a tifa drum during the 2017 National Press Day commemoration in Ambon, Maluku, on Thursday (9/2). The 72nd National Press Day commemoration was held under the theme “The Press and the People Rising from the Seas”.
AMBON, KOMPAS – President Joko Widodo says the mainstream media is facing serious challenges. The presence of social media has opened the opportunity for everyone to produce news. Therefore, the mainstream media should step forward and serve as a reference to clarify fake news and hoaxes by upholding journalism ethics.
“We need to work together to stop the spread of fake news, hoaxes, news that sows discord and slander,” the President said in his speech at the National Press Day commemoration ceremony in Ambon, Maluku, on Thursday (9/2).
Fake news is deemed that which defies common sense and can trigger social unrest. According to the President, in a situation where fake news was widespread, the mainstream media should be able to straighten out and clarify the misinformation spreading on social media. At the same time, it was hoped that mainstream media would not be reckless in using unconfirmed information as news material.
“The mainstream media must not tire of upholding journalism ethics that demand objectivity and a disciplined culture of verification,” the President said.
He said that he was optimistic that the nation could overcome this phase and that this problem would make everyone more mature and more resilient. “Therefore, there is no need to complain too much when reading things on social media as this phenomenon occurs in all countries,” he said.
Press Council verification
The President said that he appreciated the Press Council’s efforts to verify print and electronic media companies. Such verification could ensure media professionalism and the protection of journalists. Verification, the President said, would help to map trustworthy media that could be used as reference. At the end of his speech, the President said that he hoped the National Press Day commemoration could strengthen the nation’s collective commitment to develop a harmonious Indonesia.
Press Council head Yosep Adi Prasetyo said in his speech that, amid the epidemic spread of fake news, journalists should still be doing their job, which was spreading the truth.
In any case, Yosep said, the public deserved to be provided with truthful information and they could only get that from journalists who were competent and obeyed the journalism code of ethics.
According to Yosep, the spread of hoaxes in the past two-and-a-half years had been far-reaching. It had not just been lies that were spread but also hatred.
“It is becoming more and more difficult for the people to distinguish truthful information from hoaxes. Social media has turned into a medium to make political stances. This phenomenon occurs not only in Indonesia but in other countries as well, such as Germany and the US. The public does not want this to keep on occurring as they have the right to truthful information,” said Yosep.
Therefore, competent journalists who obeyed the journalism code of ethics were needed to ensure the role of the press as watchdog and the fourth pillar of democracy. It was on this basis that the Press Council had implemented the verification process for press companies.
This verification is part of the process to create a press company database, as mandated by Law No. 40/1999 on the press. The verification refers to four Press Council regulations that have been ratified by most media company owners and leaders through the Palembang Charter on Feb. 9, 2010.
The four regulations are the journalism code of ethics, press company standards, journalists’ standards of competence and standards for journalist protection.
Initially, the verification is prioritizing media that signed and ratified the Palembang Charter in 2010. As of Monday (6/2) at 4 p.m., 77 press companies had been verified. The number will continue to grow as the process continues beyond 2017 National Press Day.
Unpublished
After protests from a number of media, the Press Council delayed announcing the 77 verified media companies from late last year until early February 2017. “We delayed the announcement of verified media companies for a while so as not to create any public confusion. This process, in fact, has been ongoing for a long time. There is no need for overreaction,” Press Council member Nezar Patria said separately.
Meanwhile, former Press Council head Bagir Manan said that he hoped the verification would not limit journalistic works. “Verification is important for self-discipline and to help make things clear if anything happens. For instance, any news-related lawsuit should be directed at the company rather than the individual journalists,” Bagir said.
Hoaxes main issue
National Press Day was commemorated in Ambon with a week-long series of events, including leadership training, blood donations, exhibitions, a number of discussions and seminars and a national mass media convention. The event was attended by 2,000 participants, 100 speakers and supporters. As noted from the President’s speech, the spread of fake news was the main issue in various forums.
Meanwhile, National Press Day was commemorated in Tasikmalaya, West Java, through journalism training in a number of schools. Students received explanations of the danger of hoaxes to the general public.
