SBY opposes media strategy: Discussion

Media experts say instead of thanking the media for its role in democracy, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has opted to be critical by saying the media lacks credibility when using text messages as a news source.

"Yudhoyono may forget that a journalist is allowed to produce an article based on a text message, as long as they are convinced that the text message is from a reliable source," Tjipta Lesmana, political communications professor at Pelita Harapan University, said in a discussion on Thursday.

Tjipta said it was assumed that a journalist would conduct proper verification before they used a text message in a story. "Police officers are able to conduct more thorough verification," he said.

Agus Sudibyo of the Press Council also said in the discussion that a journalist could use a text message as a source if they did not manipulate the content and mentioned in the article that the information came from a text message.

"Law enforcers are tasked to investigate further if required. It is not the responsibility of journalists. This is the point the President has failed to comprehend," he said.

In Yudhoyono's latest remark, he said he could not understand why many media outlets used text messages claiming to be sent by Nazaruddin as a source.

The text messages unveiled controversial statements. Among other information was the statement that Nazaruddin was not the only one who had received bribe money. It said some high ranking Democratic Party officials, such as Anas Urbaningrum, Andi Malaranggeng and Marwan Amir, also did.