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Former education minister appointed as head of Press Council
Muhammad Nuh said the council would seek to improve the public’s media literacy to counter the spread of false news and disinformation.
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Muhammad Nuh (Kompas/Banar Fil Ardhi)
F
ormer Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-era education and cultural affairs minister Muhammad Nuh has been appointed as the new chairman of the Press Council for the 2019-2022 term.
He replaces Yosep Adi Prasetyo, who had been chairman since 2016.
Eight other members were also appointed to the council, including MNC News chief editor Jamalul Insan, Tempo Magazine chief editor Arif Zulkifli and media observer Agus Sudibyo.
In his first speech as Press Council chairman, Nuh said the council would seek to improve the public’s media literacy to counter the spread of false news and disinformation.
“When the public becomes smarter and more mature, they will be able to identify [fake news] and self-censor,” he said at the Press Council office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by Antara.
He also urged media organizations to also play their part by emphasizing fact-checking and verifications.
“Because right now, there are many different types of news and different opinions. The media should be the one to shine a light on this to strengthen nationalism,” he said.
Nuh does not have a background in journalism but previously served as Yudhoyono’s minister of communications and information.
The Press Council is tasked with, among other things, protecting press freedom and evaluating potential breaches of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. (kmt)
