The Media

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Illustration of newspaper published in Jakarta

Several print media publishers have gone bankrupt. The number continues to grow. Those surviving have reduced the scale of their operations. Some are gasping for air. Meanwhile, the digital industry is growing rapidly.Will the press industry soon become extinct? This question has been discussed since the internet boomed. I believe the golden age of the press has passed. However, I also believe journalism is needed more now than a generation ago. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that these needs will be met.

Anxiety over the fate of the print media is understandable, but need not be exaggerated. While modernization is revered in many countries, many believe that religion will soon be obsolete. It is envisioned that the world will become more rational, secular, modern and prosperous thanks to advances in science and technology. What happened was the opposite.

Also read: Philosophy of Passion

Every technological and cultural innovation is charming when honeymooning. Its charms dazzle our view of the overarching reality. Innovation responds to the urgent challenges of the times while ignoring other needs which at that time are deemed less urgent.

Digital technology is the most radical revolutionary force in recent history. It tears down the systems of production, distribution and consumption of information that were previously centralized in the hands of a few elites. At first glance it looks like the democratization of information.

Facebook is not a country. However, they also determine the political turmoil of the superpowers.

If we compare it to a country, Facebook is the most populous country in the world. Especially if the two colonies are added: Instagram and WhatsApp. The rulers are not elected by the people. The data compiled by Facebook authorities on its 2 billion users is perhaps more complete than the data from the world\'s most powerful intelligence service. Facebook is not a country. However, they also determine the political turmoil of the superpowers.

The 20th century journalism has been battered. However, the world still needs it, especially when it is hit by a crisis and society is divided. There, journalism has the opportunity to help the public build agreements and avoid an explosion of conflict.

AP PHOTO/MATT DUNHAM

British national newspapers are displayed for sale with their Brexit-related front pages at a supermarket in Surbiton, south west London, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pressing ahead to try to win parliamentary backing for his new Brexit deal as the European Union considers his grudging request to extend the looming Oct. 31 Brexit deadline.

Not long ago, a region was threatened with civil war. The people are divided into two contradicting flows of information about the validity of the election results there. In other regions, the public is torn by two large waves of conflicting information about citizen deaths resulting from police action.

The Covid-19 outbreak has become a source of national division in several countries. Some think the plague is just a hoax or conspiracy. The mob clashed with police when their city life was restricted by a lockdown. Such examples will continue. Also when the Covid-19 vaccination is available.

In such situations, truthful, proven and reliable facts and information are required. From there, public agreement can be built and further debate can be more enlightening. Such information requires a transparent, official and institutionalized process for data collection and processing. The producers are professionals with clear and authoritative identities.

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It is difficult to expect such information from social media. Instead, social media is a major source of division every day everywhere. There, bullying, hate speech, and hoaxes explode wildly. The more sharply divided society is, the further immersed its citizens are in the debate on social media. The value of shares and assets of social media service companies is also multiplying.

Social divisions are not the main goal of social media platform companies. However, social divisions are also not some kind of accident or an obstacle for them to reap the maximum profit. There the role of the state is the key.

State censorship of social media access is not a solution. Punishing netizens who spread hoaxes or hate speech does not solve the problem. All of these repressive policies are only reactions to surface symptoms.

AP PHOTO/ALASTAIR GRANT

A selection of the British national newspapers on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, showing their front page reactions to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris winning in the US election, in London.

The root of the problem demands a long-term constructive strategy. Namely overcoming social disparities and building a reliable information system. This is a joint project of the state, journalists and the general public.

Journalism is not the only source of appropriate information to address social crises. However, It is one of the most deserving of hope.

Journalism is not a fair queen. In communist countries, the press is used for the propaganda of the authorities. In liberal capitalist countries, the press is threatened by trade interests. Free competition has resulted in a market monopoly by a handful of entrepreneurs.

In many former colonies, journalists face repeated physical threats from the government or non-governmental organizations. However, there are opportunities for independent, honest, and astute journalists everywhere.

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Building healthy journalism requires a massive investment of funds, training, equipment and organization as well as law, health and education. State institutions (not governments that come and go) are worthy of providing legal protection and a portion of funds, without interfering in the work procedures of professionals in their fields.

Ironically, some of the content spread on social media is the product of the press which is the victim.

Journalism of the 20th century is in danger of collapsing. On the other hand, social media companies thrive without competing and conquering the press with rival products. They don\'t produce any information content. Ironically, some of the content spread on social media is the product of the press which is the victim.

Social media educates netizens to speak up without being responsible and educate them to consume information for free. "Must pay?" they asked, amazed and disappointed when they clicked on a link without access to open it. Before social media took off, the question "must pay?" was unheard of around newspaper and magazine sellers.

Journalist services are increasingly needed in times of social division. This need cannot be fulfilled if there is no one who can maintain the stamina of journalism with intelligence, work, and funds. People can only enjoy the harvest from what they have planted.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Ariel Heryanto

Innovation in technology and culture is the breath of civilization. The presence of new innovations does not always result in all innovations from the past generation suddenly going obsolete. Even though the bicycle was created, it doesn’t mean that we don’t need to walk anymore.

ARIEL HERYANTO, Professor Emeritus, Monash University, Australia