TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Protection for journalist safety remains weak in Indonesia: Survey
"Data from the index reveals 321 incidents of violence against 167 journalists throughout 2024, highlighting the persistent gaps in journalist protection and the urgent need for stronger safeguards," East Java Occupational Safety and Health Council deputy chair Edi Priyanto said on Wednesday.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Journalists put flowers and press cards on mock headstones
as they demonstrate on May 17, 2024, outside the Blitar mayoral Legislative Council headquarters in Blitar, East Java. The members of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) rejected a broadcasting bill that they believe will curtail press
freedom. (Antara/Irfan Sumanjaya)
J
ournalist protection in Indonesia remains weak, with media workers regularly facing a variety of workplace risks, including physical violence, legal threats, digital attacks and economic pressure, according to the latest Journalist Safety Index from the Tifa Foundation and pollster Populix.
The report is based on a survey of 760 active journalists conducted between Oct. 30 and Dec. 6 of last year, including respondents from Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Papua and Maluku.
"Data from the index reveals 321 incidents of violence against 167 journalists throughout 2024, highlighting the persistent gaps in journalist protection and the urgent need for stronger safeguards," East Java Occupational Safety and Health Council deputy chair Edi Priyanto said on Wednesday.
Edi stressed that journalists, as professional workers, are entitled to a safe working environment, which includes protection from violence by authorities or specific groups and access to personal protective equipment (PPE) when reporting in high-risk zones.
"Journalists also deserve adequate psychosocial support to manage the mental strain from threats or censorship, as well as robust legal protection to prevent criminalization for simply doing their jobs," he added.
Edi urged media companies to strengthen protection for their journalists, pointing out that the survey gave Indonesian news organizations a score of only 73 out of 100 for their efforts to protect their workers.
News organizations must assess and mitigate the risks journalists face, strengthen workplace safety protocols and offer legal protection and assistance for those under threat.
