Protecting the Press, Protecting Democracy, Protecting Indonesia

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Motorcyclists ride past a mural around Pejompongan, Jakarta on Feb. 3, 2020. Aside from making the city colorful, murals can become a medium to raise public awareness on particular issues, such as national unity and tolerance. Taking care of Indonesia means respecting plurality, diversity and tolerance.

“NKRI Harga Mati [The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is Undisputed].” That slogan is close to the hearts of Indonesians. Preserving the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is the duty of all Indonesian citizens, including members of the press.

Protecting the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is inseparable from protecting the press. When speaking at the 2020 National Press Day (HPN) commemoration at the Mahligai Pancasila Building in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Sunday, Press Council chair Mohammad Nuh explained the interconnectedness between the press, democracy and the NKRI.

“Everyone agrees that the NKRI is final. Democracy is a pillar of the NKRI and press is a pillar of democracy. Therefore, nurturing the press means nurturing democracy. Nurturing democracy means nurturing the country,” Nuh said.

Therefore, he continued, whoever wished to protect the NKRI should also protect the growth and development of the press. Protecting press (freedom) means protecting democracy and the NKRI. Members of the press also have the responsibility of protecting democracy and the NKRI.

In protecting democracy and the NKRI, Nuh said that press freedom was highly important. However, press freedom should not be preserved just for the sake of itself, as there are also matters of ethics, esthetics and logic. In terms of logic, members of the press will convey whatever truths they obtain.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

President Joko Widodo (fourth right), along with House Speaker Puan Maharani (third right), Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD (second right), Peoples Consultative Assembly Speaker Bambang Soesatyo (fourth left) and other figures, hit rebana (tambourine) at the opening of National Press Day (HPN) 2020 commemoration in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Saturday (8/2/2020). HPN 2020 entitled Press Promotes South Kalimantan as A Gate to the State Capital City.

In line with the logic of press freedom, journalistic reports must be in line with facts. Truth. However, for the sake of the greater good, including for democracy and the NKRI, members of the press must consider matters of ethics and aesthetics without neglecting the truth. “The press should prioritize not only logic and freedom but also ethics and aesthetics,” Nuh said.

According to him, nurturing the growth and development of the media is part of the government’s duty. However, sometimes the duty is delegated to be carried out independently by members of the press. “The press must not beg to have its dignity preserved. However, if the elements of the nation responsible for it refuse to give [the press its dignity], it will be far worse,” he said.

Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) chair Atal S. Depari, who served as guarantor in the HPN 2020 commemoration, said that, as a pillar of democracy and the NKRI, the Indonesian press had never stopped struggling. In addition to the difficulty of working in the interests of the nation, today’s press also struggles to preserve itself in the era of media disruption.

The HPN was established through Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 5/1985. Its commemoration date was derived from PWI’s date of founding, namely 9 February 1946.

The HPN was established through Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 5/1985. Its commemoration date was derived from PWI’s date of founding, namely 9 February 1946. “Members of the press have always stood and fought together despite their differences,” Atal said.

Ideology

As part of the NKRI, Nuh said, the press has an ideology, namely good journalism. Good journalism can be nurtured by providing journalists with three fundamental things, namely competence, security insurance and welfare insurance.

Nuh said that these three things should continuously be nurtured. This can be achieved if the ecosystem, including press companies, grows well.

“The solution must encompass the entire ecosystem, instead of just parts of it. Soon, we and other supporters of the press will formulate this ecosystem so that, no matter what happens, the press will survive,” he explained.

Therefore, the government and members of the national press will prepare a regulation to protect the national press.

During the HPN 2020 commemoration on Saturday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the country needed good press to report good things, develop democracy and protect the NKRI. However, digital disruptions have led to extraordinary challenges for the press. Therefore, the government and members of the national press will prepare a regulation to protect the national press (Kompas, 9/2).

In the HPN 2020 Mass Media Convention on Saturday, Communication and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate emphasized the President’s statement by encouraging members of the press to unite in facing digital challenges and the flood of information on social media. The government will build an ecosystem, including through lawmaking, for the sake of the press’ development.

However, Johnny said that this protection would not be optimal without support from members of the press. This is time for members of the national press to stand together and rise. Data from the Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report 2019 shows that level of public trust in the press, which had declined from 2012 to 2017, improved over the past two years. The level of public trust was 58 percent in 2017, 63 percent in 2018 and 65 percent in 2019.

(JUMARTO YULIANUS/P TRI AGUNG KRISTANTO)