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Press freedom in Papua expected to lead to positive reporting
Freedom of the press in Papua will allow foreign journalists to freely cover the area and will lead to positive news reporting about Papua, according to the Indonesian Press Council
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reedom of the press in Papua will allow foreign journalists to freely cover the area and will lead to positive news reporting about Papua, according to the Indonesian Press Council.
"Freedom of the press offers an opportunity to explain to the public about Papua's real situation," member of the press council I Made Ray Karuna Wijaya said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Implementing freedom of the press necessitates the Indonesian government allowing access for the foreign press to objectively witness and report on conditions in Papua.
The press council has urged the government to establish a press code of ethics on news coverage in Papua for all journalists, both foreign and domestic, so that all reporting will have a positive impact on the communities in Papua and West Papua provinces.
According to Wijaya, granting permission to foreign journalists to cover Papua is a positive step forward from the standpoint of freedom of the press, which will benefit the people in Papua and West Papua.
"Based on the universal principles of journalism, the freedom of press in Papua is expected by foreign journalists," he said.
The Indonesian government has granted access to foreign journalists to cover all areas of Papua Island, which comprises Papua and West Papua provinces.
The freedom of the press policy was announced by President Joko Widodo on May 10 after Indonesia restrained foreign journalists from covering Papua for several years. (hhr)(++++)
