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Media giants' support for Jokowi could backfire

Media analysts and observers, however, have said that while support from television and press outlets was a plus for Jokowi's campaign, it was far from a guarantee of victory, as alternative media sources were more available than ever.

Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post)
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Jakarta
Wed, September 12, 2018

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Media giants' support for Jokowi could backfire President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gestures as he greets members of the People’s Consultative Assembly before delivering the state of the nation address during the Assembly's plenary session on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)

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s the presidential election campaign period nears, media tycoons have flocked to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's camp, raising concerns that slanted media coverage could give the incumbent an unfair advantage in his bid for reelection.

Media analysts and observers, however, have said that while support from television and press outlets was a plus for Jokowi's campaign, it was far from a guarantee of victory, as alternative media sources were more available than ever.

"Competition on both traditional and social media will prevent either camp from dominating," media observer Agus Sudibyo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. "The different forces will offset each other."

On the surface, the President appears to have the upper hand. The Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin campaign team boasts at least three major media owners:  team chairman Erick Thohir is the president director of PT Mahaka Media, which counts Islamic daily newspaper Republika, local television station JakTV and popular radio station GenFM among its holdings; while Media Group founder Surya Paloh and MNC group patron Hary Tanoesoedibjo are both chairmen of parties within Jokowi's coalition.

Businessman Chairul Tanjung, who owns a slew of television and online news media outlets, including TransTV, Detik.com, and CNN Indonesia, had been tipped to lead President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s campaign before Erick Thohir was eventually confirmed as team chairman.

Chairul himself has yet to publicly confirm his support for Jokowi, however, and the Transmedia group has denied that its companies have any political allegiance.

The group asserted on Wednesday that it was not affiliated to any political organizations and that it would remain impartial in covering the election.

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