Realizing Press Freedom

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A number of journalists held an action to commemorate World Press Freedom Day at the Proclamation Monument, Cirebon City, West Java, on Monday (30/5/2022).

While the work of the press is not getting easier, the 2022 Indonesian Press Freedom Index has shown an improvement. The press must be supported so that journalistic work will further improve.

On Thursday (Aug. 25), during the launch of the 2022 Press Freedom Index in Jakarta, the chairman of the Press Council, Azyumardi Azra, acknowledged that “freedom of the press has improved slightly, but we shouldn’t become complacent. We still have to fight for it”.

Also read:

> Press Freedom Index Increases Slightly

> Problem in Press Freedom

From time to time, the freedom of the press must be fought for. This struggle seems never ending. As a comparison, Indonesia’s Press Freedom Index score released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Tuesday (May 3), dropped from 62.60 in 2021 to 49.27 in 2022. Indonesia ranks 117 out of 180 countries covered by the survey.

The two indexes, for example, both acknowledge that the independence or freedom of the press in Papua is in bad condition.

The index theme is slightly different, namely the independent press and press freedom. However, the points in the preparation of the index are not much different. The two indexes, for example, both acknowledge that the independence or freedom of the press in Papua is in bad condition.

In Indonesia the struggle to achieve press freedom is certainly not easy. Violence remains a problem. Violence continues to threaten women and children. In short, the culture of violence still exists in this nation.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The chairman of the Press Council Azyumardi Azra.

Violence is not only physical, but also in the form of the disclosure of personal data of journalists or their families to the public or doxing, which is now feared even more because it targets the delegitimization of the competence of related journalists.

Unfortunately, violence against journalists is often resolved through a “family approach”. In the absence of a deterrent effect, violence continues to occur. Journalists often feel discouraged in covering topics that have the potential to harm themselves even though it will bring a positive effect on people's lives.

A number of steps to minimize violence against journalists have been carried out by several institutions and press organizations. We appreciate such initiatives. Advocacy is even carried out actively, sometimes before there is a request from the victim.

Hopefully a number of articles in the RKUHP that potentially threaten press freedom can be revised.

We also appreciate the steps taken by the Press Council for providing input to the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) regarding the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP). Hopefully a number of articles in the RKUHP that potentially threaten press freedom can be revised.

In the end, we also call on the public not to easily get angry toward journalists. The threat of violence against journalists must be realized as a threat to democracy itself.

Efforts to ensure press freedom can also be done by supporting the financial condition of the news media companies so that they can support the lives of journalists. The simplest way is to remain loyal to consuming news from trusted media.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)