Journalists at the forefront

Priority group: In Indonesia, those working in the media will be among the first to be vaccinated in late February till March this year. — Reuters

In good times and especially bad, a responsible press is the pillar of a vibrant democracy.

PRESIDENT Joko Widodo (Jokowi) of Indonesia has promised to allocate 5,000 vaccines as priority for those working in the media.

He acknowledges them as frontliners not just in the fight against the pandemic but also in playing a critical role in disseminating information and news to the people.

They will be among the first to be vaccinated in late February till March this year.

He made the announcement at the National Press Day ceremony in Jakarta on Feb 9.

He also announced tax exemption for newsprints and the reduction of corporate tax for media companies at least till June this year.

Jokowi also pledged to protect publishing rights and create a level playing field for local media to compete against tech giants.

There was understandably a collective sigh of relief among the country’s media practitioners.

Like their brethren the world over who are battered by the onslaught of new media, the intervention is certainly welcomed.

Jakarta is the host of this year’s Press Day celebration. The theme chosen, “Bangkit Dari Pandemi, Pers Sebagai Akselerator Perubahan dan Pemulihan Ekonomi” (Rising from the Pandemic: The Press As Accelerator of Change and the Catalyst for Economic Revival) sounds apt.

Atal S. Depari, the head of Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI), mentioned that the pandemic has impacted the financial well-being of media companies.

But despite the trials and tribulations the press has to go through, the media practitioners are first and foremost the dhamir ummah (public conscience).

The moral of the story is, in good times and especially bad, a responsible press is the pillar of a vibrant democracy.

Press freedom is a utopia to some but a critical ingredient for any nation. Good old press is still trusted.

The realm of social media is one that is beyond anyone’s imagination. Sadly it has become a harbinger of hate and vitriolic messages, with a cowboy mentality prevailing.

The good of the platform has been undermined by ill intention and bad judgement by irresponsible users.

The Indonesian press has a colourful history.

Not unlike the rise of our own brand of journalism, it was closely linked with the growth of autochthonous intelligentsia. The journalists played an important role in national consciousness and the fight for independence.

In his Akarpadi blog, veteran journalist Sem Haesy mentioned names like Omar Said Tjokroaminoto, Tirto Adhisoerjo, Agus Salim, Abdul Moes, Parada Harahap, Adinegoro, Rohana Kudus, Mohtar Lubis, Hamka, Adam Malik, Rosihan Anwar and Goenawan Mohamad among others as part of the hall of fame of Indonesian journalism. Many of them made their names in other disciplines later.

We have Syed Sheikh Ahmad Al Hadi, Abdul Rahim Kajai, Yusof Ishak (who later became the first President of the Republic of Singapore), Datuk Onn Jaafar, Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Za’ba), Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail and Tan Sri Lee Siew Yee to name a few who graced the world of media with their commitment and conviction.

They represent a different era but their influence on future generations of journalists can never be questioned. Many of them became leaders in other fields as well.

Indonesia, however, has PWI, a powerful and respected organisation since its inception on Feb 9,1946. The date is celebrated as Indonesia’s Press Day.

PWI has a proud history and tradition and of course it too has its chequered past. Most notably it went through a period of “demokrasi terpimpin” (guided democracy) during Sukarno’s era. The press went through 32 years of “Orde Baru” during President Suharto’s reign. It was challenging times and very few dared challenge him.

“Reformasi” in the late 90s changed all that. The press found a new freedom. It resulted in a more robust, much freer and more responsible press.

At the same time, on the political front no party had a resounding majority in Parliament after Suharto’s fall. (Sounds familiar here?)

Sam Heasy has a very interesting observation about the state of affairs of the press.

He wrote, “the freedom and the independence of the press have always been intruded upon by various political needs, especially by the passengers of change (ironically initiated by the press people themselves) through revolution and reforms, but like flowing water, it will eventually find its true form”.

It is about time we revive our National Press Day.

Johan Jaaffar was a journalist, editor and for some years chairman of a media company, and is passionate about all things literature and the arts. And a diehard rugby fan. The views expressed here are entirely his own.