Promise of Economic Justice for the National Press

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

Mustawan sells Kompas newspapers at the Ratu Plaza pedestrian bridge, Central Jakarta, on Friday (3/7/2020). Transjakarta bus passengers, mostly office workers in the Senayan area, are among his customers.

The media industry is under pressure from the Covid-19 pandemic and the development of digital platforms. In response to this, the government has promised a fair economic system and rules of the game.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo promised a fair economic system and rules of the game for the media industry and digital platforms. A number of regulations have been issued. Nevertheless, the government is still open to various new recommendations.

The President made the remarks at the commemoration of National Press Day at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (9/2/2021). Those present at the event, which was also held virtually, included Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani, Chairman of Regional Representatives Council (DPD) La Nyalla Mattalitti, a number of Onward Cabinet ministers, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Chairman of the Press Council Mohammad Nuh, and Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association Atal S Depari.

Also read: Safeguard the National Media Ecosystem

"I also realize that the media industry is under pressure with the massive and fast development of social media. I agree, convergence and a fair level playing field are needed," the President said in his speech.

Implementing regulations related to information have just been published, namely Government Regulations on Post, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.

Some of these aspirations, according to the President, have been accommodated in Law No. 11 of 2020 on Job Creation. Implementing regulations related to information have just been published, namely Government Regulations on Post, Telecommunications and Broadcasting. However, the government is still open to listening to the aspirations of the media.

Also read: Upon Our Sacred Duty

With regard to this, President Jokowi promised to order the relevant ministers to issue regulations that protect the rights of journalistic work. Thus, the economic benefits of journalistic work can be enjoyed equally by conventional media as producers of works and digital platforms as aggregators.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo delivers his speech virtually during the commemoration of 2021 National Press Day in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Tuesday (9/2/2021. In his address at the event themed “Rising from the Pandemic, Jakarta as the Gateway to Economic Recovery with the Press as the Accelerator of Change”, the President expressed appreciation for all members of the press who had helped the government in educating the public to be disciplined in adhering to health protocols to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Thus far, news publishers upload and distribute their content to global digital platforms. Global digital platforms then use their technology to determine where and when the content appears on the platforms, including to control the digital advertising ecosystem.

This condition raises a number of problem chains that lead to unfair business competition. News publishers do get benefits because their content is distributed, but those are far below the benefits the digital platforms get.

This condition also becomes a "boomerang" for publishers because of the ads that are sucked into the digital platform. As a result, the publisher\'s business shrinks as its advertising revenue falls.

Also read : Protecting Press Freedom

The pandemic has exacerbated the condition. A number of print media have closed. Even online media advertising revenue, based on data from the Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI), has fallen by 50 percent from before the pandemic even though news readability has increasesd by around 40 percent.

There are also those who are trying to make a living by moving to digital platforms while learning to adapt.

Atal S. Depari said that in the midst of the economic crisis due to the pandemic, a number of companies were forced to terminate their employees\' employment. Even, not a few media companies have gone out of business. There are also those who are trying to make a living by moving to digital platforms while learning to adapt.

Journalism quality

Content distribution on global digital platforms that does not differentiate journalistic content from non-journalistic content, including hoaxes, can mislead the public. The way the search engine algorithm works, said Anthony Wonsono, an executive of AMSI Central Board, Monday (8/2), also affects how the newsroom works. For the sake of clickbait content on global digital platforms, the quality of journalism is frequently at stake.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Imam Ambarwoto (right), a reporter of the Trans7 television station for Banyumas Regency hands over a package of staple foods during an event to celebrate the 2021 National Press Day in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java on Tuesday (9/2/2021).

The consideration of maintaining the professionalism and freedom of the press in the media ecosystem is the one that leads the Press Council to initiate a review of regulations regarding the rights of media publishers. "The publisher rights is a business issue that has an impact on the quality of journalism and press freedom," said a member of the Press Council, Agus Sudibyo.

Press freedom

In the midst of commemoration of National Press Day, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) reminded all parties to protect press freedom which is the fruit of reform. The press is not only the eyes and ears of the public, but also a form of freedom of opinion. "The press is important because it is the essence of human rights and democracy," said deputy chairman of Komnas HAM Amiruddin Al Rahab.

Amiruddin said that the press fulfilled people’s right to information. Therefore, Komnas HAM views that members of the press were human rights defenders because they helped realize freedom of opinion.

He reminded that press freedom is the result of reform. Therefore, all components of the nation need to jointly protect it. The goal is that human rights and democracy in Indonesia will be of higher quality.

They demanded protection for journalists and a revision of the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE).

Emphasis on the importance of freedom of expression was also disclosed the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers), and the Indonesia Judicial Research Society (IJRS). They demanded protection for journalists and a revision of the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE).

Ade Wahyudin from LBH Pers referred to President Jokowi\'s statement asking the public to be more active in criticizing the government\'s performance. According to him, from merely rhetorical statements and spontaneous inconsistent policies, the president needs to pay attention to the many cases that curb freedom of expression. For example, in 2020, the National Police Chief issued a telegram regarding the anticipation of cases of hate speech and the spread of hoaxes, as well as cases of insulting the authorities/president/government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/MUCHLIS JR

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attends a commemoration for 2021 National Press Day at the State Palace on 9 Feb. 2021.

Sustira Dirga from ICJR added, based on the results of the Political Indicator Survey released on Oct. 25, 2020, as many as 36 percent of 1,200 respondents throughout Indonesia said that Indonesia had become a less democratic country. Meanwhile, 47.7 percent of respondents said they somewhat agreed that residents were increasingly afraid to express their opinions. (LAS/IKA/EDN/DKA)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)

(The captions were translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)