H

aving been the frequent object of negative media reports of late, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not miss the opportunity to remind the media to “provide more balance” and “self-censorship” in their reporting.

The President was addressing the commemoration of National Press Day in South Sumatra’s capital of Palembang on Tuesday.

“We want the media reports... to cover both sides. If the media wants to cover a story on a governor, for example, then it should also seek the government’s opinion on the matter,” Yudhoyono said.

“It would be good if the press self-censored, so the government wouldn’t need to do it. I see the ratification as part of self-censorship,” he added.

The President was referring to the ratification of the “national journalism standards” on Tuesday by 18 local media groups, including Kompas Gramedia, Jawa Pos,  PT Media Nusantara Citra, Transmedia and Detik.com groups.

The standards outline a journalistic code of ethics and were adopted despite debate from within the media about whether they were realistic, given widespread independent reporting by bloggers and freelancers.

“There should be standards for acceptable reporting. It is the Press Council itself that can outline the standards,” Yudhoyono said.

“The press has now become a powerful element in Indonesia. The media must ensure that power is used in a constructive way,” he added.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring also appealed for more exposure of “positive” images of the country instead of images of “burning tires, shattered windows, protests and  conflicts in Papua”, which he said dominated morning TV reports.

Following his speech Yudhoyono spent 30 minutes visiting a local shop to enjoy the famed pempek delicacy, a floury snack made from ground fish meat.

He was welcomed by half a dozen men in traditional costume and  briefed on its ingredients and varieties.

“Pempek is our local product; don’t let other countries claim it,”  Yudhoyono joked.

 After tasting the snacks one of his guards was seen carrying two large boxes of the delicacy.  

Earlier South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin had jokingly said the town may have run out of the delicacy due to the 1,500 participants attending the media event.