Media must be fair and balanced in coverage: SBY

In the middle of intensifying media reporting of corruption cases involving members of his Democratic Party, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is calling on the media to maintain fair and balanced
coverage.

“What the press do will have a significant impact on public opinion and I am happy that media outlets realize that it is important to keep maintaining their integrity and improving their competence,” Yudhoyono said in a speech at the commemoration of National Press Day in Jambi on Thursday.

Yudhoyono said that some countries in the world have paid a terrible price for exaggerated reports published by the media.

However, the President said that despite the potential negative impact that media reporting could have, respect for press freedoms were of paramount importance.

“It will be far better if we have press freedom in this country, rather than [having] the limited press of totalitarian or authoritarian states,” he said.

He said that the media could have a positive impact on a country only if it is honest, objective and balanced.

Meanwhile, Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembi-ring has called on the media to serve the public’s interests rather than confuse people.

“The press should be able to tell the public about growth and change and not disseminate discourses that cause confusion in society,” he said.

Separately, the Edelman Trust Barometer said that its 2012 annual global study has found that the Indonesian media was the country’s most trusted institution among informed citizens for the fourth consecutive year.

“Eighty percent of Indonesian respondents, which ranks highest among the 25 countries polled for the survey and significantly higher than its global and Asia Pacific peers [53 percent and 63 percent, respectively], said they trust media to do what is right,” Edelman said in a statement.

More than 30,000 respondents in 25 countries, including in nine Asia-Pacific countries (Indonesia, China, India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australia), were surveyed by the public relations firm.

Chadd McLisky, chairman of IndoPacific Edelman, said that within only a short period of time, the Indonesian media has managed to earn the trust of the public.

“Indonesian media is a remarkable story of hard-earned trust over the years,” Chadd said.

Last month, a report issued by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Indonesia at 146 out of 178 countries on this year’s Press Freedom Index.

According to the report, Indonesia dropped from its 117th position recorded last year.

The organization attributed the sharp drop to the country’s ineffective and repressive judicial system and claimed that the media was being influenced by politicians and pressure groups.

The report also stated that “physical attacks on media personnel are rare, but often violent when they do occur”.

Indonesia was ranked 100th in 2010, above Malaysia (141) and Singapore (136). The newly independent Timor Leste was in 93rd position.

Media watchdogs were quick to denounce the report, saying that RSF placed too much emphasis on the violence inflicted on journalists instead of focusing on the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists to scrutinize authorities.