Every February 9, Indonesia celebrates National Press Day. This day is a momentum to appreciate journalists, as well as a reminder of the important role of the Press in people’s lives.
Dr. Evie Ariadne Shinta Dewi, M.Pd. as a lecturer in Communication Science Study Programme at Universitas Padjadjaran who works in the field of political communication studies gave her views on the Press in Indonesia.
“The main principles that must always be upheld by the Press in Indonesia are independence, truth, balance, and respect for human rights. If the press is not independent or intervened by other parties that are not in the interest of the people, then that means there has been a violation of human rights,” she said.
Evie argued that in Indonesia there have been several violations of press ethics. One of them happened in 2019 when a narrative circulated about the existence of 10 million foreigners, who were given e-KTPs so that they could participate in the 2019 elections to vote, which then created unrest among the public.
With events like this, Evie hoped that in the future the national press will further strengthen its integrity and professionalism, especially in the face of a digital era full of disinformation.
In addition, Evie also hoped that the campus, especially the Faculty and Study Program, especially Communication Science and Journalism, will build a press that is professional and has integrity. For Evie, the campus must be able to contribute in a real way, for example developing campus media as a model of ideal journalism.
Happy National Press Day, Yellow Fellow! [Ed]