Presented by RATNA KOMALA, PRESS COUNCIL OF INDONESIA for Discussion on Freedom of The Press in Bangkok, February 14-15, 2017

1. RATNA KOMALA
PRESS COUNCIL OF INDONESIA
Dicussion on Freedom of The Press
Bangkok, February 14-15, 2017
“The Challenges of Protecting Press Freedom
in a Divided World”

2. Four Pillars of Democracy
Press is The 4th Pillar of
Democracy
 Executive (Government)
 Legislature (Parliament &
State Assemblies, etc)
 Judiciary (Supreme Courts,
High Court & other judicial
centers)
 Media (Televisions,
Internet, Newspapers,
Radio) => has greater
potential to empower
citizens.

3. Freedom of The Press
 Provide informations for
the public to fulfil the Right
to Information
 As a vehicle for citizens to
convey their thoughts and
opinions
 To control & monitor
governmental activities as
part of public participatory
role in running a country.

4. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 Transition from the authoritarian New Order
to the democratic Reformation Order.
(Before 1998 The Indonesian Press had
been controlled by the authoritarian regime
over 30 years)
 Since then, the Indonesian Press has the
right to seek out, obtain, and broadcast any
ideas and informations, free from coercion
and interference from any parties.
•1. Indonesian Political Reforms
1998

5. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 The Indonesian transition to democratic country
was marked by The Press Law No.40 of 1999 :
 Article # 6 :
1. Fulfiling the public’s right to information
2. Upholding basic values of democracy, the
realization of law supremacy and basic human
rights, and respecting pluralism
3. Developing honest, fair and accurate public
opinion
4. Supervision, critiques, corrections and advice
for issues relating to public interest
5. Fight for justice and truth
2. MEDIA REGULATIONS : The
Enactment of The Press Law No 40
of 1999

6. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 Article 5 Law No.40 of 1999 :
The Indonesian press also has the responsibility
of reporting incidents and opinions while
respecting religious and social norms, and
assuming the presumption of innocence
 The Law eliminates various shackles on
freedom of the press, such as eliminating The
business license system (SIUP), so there was
no more power to revoke the SIUP
MEDIA REGULATION

7. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 Act No. 32 0f 2002 is a law that regulates Broadcasting
Operation Principles Applicable in Indonesia, includes the
principles, objectives, functions and direction of national
broadcasters, regulates the provision of the Indonesian
Broadcasting Commission (KPI)
 The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI)
KPI is an independent body which has duties : to make
sure that people receive adequate and accurate information
according to the human rights, assist broadcasting infrastructures
adjustment, develop a healthy competition of broadcasting
agencies and related industries, maintain a fair, equal, and
balanced national information so it could contain, study, and follow
up people's reports, protests, critics, and appreciations to
broadcasting organizing, and arrange a plan to improve human
resources that could guarantee the professionalism in broadcasting
3. The Enactment of Act No 32 0f 2002
about Broadcasting

8. The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission
(KPI)
 KPI has the rights to set the standards of broadcast
programs, set the regulations of broadcasting & the
guide for broadcasting, monitor the implementation
of the regulation & guide of broadcasting and
monitor the broadcast program standards, give
sanctions to those who violate the regulations,
guide, and standards, and coordinate and/or work
together with the government, broadcasting
agencies, and the society.
Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia

9. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 Press Council of Indonesia :
The independent Press Council of Indonesia was
established based on article 15 Law No. 40 of
1999: to develop the independence of the press
and improve the profesionalism of the national
press.
Before The 1998 Reforms, The Indonesian Press
Council was part of the government whose the
Minister of Information as The Chairman of Press
Council and as the Advisory Board of Government.
4. Press Council of
Indonesia

10. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 Press Council of Indonesia :
Since the Press Law no 40 of 1999 has been
enacted, the members of Press Council of
Indonesia consist of
(1) Representatives of journalist associations
(2) Representatives of Press Corporations
(3) Media Experts .
Press Council of
Indonesia

11. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 The Functions of Indonesian Press Council :
1. To protect and maintain press freedom from
interference by other parties,
2. Conducting studies for the development of the
press,
3. Establish and oversee the implementation of the
code of ethics of journalism,
4. Resolving public complaints on cases related to
press publications
5. Facilitate good communications among The
Press, The society and The government
Press Council of
Indonesia

12. Freedom of The Press :
Experiences of Indonesia
 The Functions of Indonesian Press Council :
6. To fasilitate and assists media corporation in
formulating press regulations and to improve the
quality and professionalism of their journalists
7. To compile data base of press corporations
Press Council of
Indonesia

13. Freedom of The Press : Experiences of
Indonesia
Regulations and
Guidelines
1. Journalism Code of
Ethics
2. Complaints Filing
Procedures to The Press
Council
3. Right of Reply Guidelines
4. Standard for Protection of
the profession of
journalists
5. Standard for Press
Corporations
6. Standard for Journalists’s
Organizations
7. Standard for Press
Corporation Organizations
8. Standard for Journalists
Competence Test
9. Distribution Guidelines for
Adult Print Media
10. Guidelines for Cyber
Media coverage
11. Guidelines for Terrorist
Coverage
MEDIA AS SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION
These various regulations compiled by the press communities which was
facilitated by Indonesian Press Council and can briefly describe how the efforts
of Indonesian Press Communities to safeguard and enhance press freedom
trough self-regulation.

14. The Challenges of Protecting Freedom of The Press
:
Experiences of Indonesia
• Conflict of interest of the Media in Presidential
Election in 2014 and Governor Election in 2017
(since the Media Owners joined political party)
• Ethics violations resolved by the Press Council
with the press law No. 40/1999 which
recommends the Media to apologize to the public
and fulfil Right of Reply and Right of Correction
and never recommend media and journalists
prosecuted in court
5. Freedom of The Press vs Political
Interest of The Media Owner

15. 6. Social Media as Propaganda Instrument vs
Professional Mainstream Media
 The development of New Media technology changed
the Media Landscape in Indonesia
 Online Media and Social Media have been grown up
significantly, brought up new approach on producing
and consuming information/news by the public
(producing and disseminating Hoax, fake news etc).
 Online Media and Social Media as an Isntrument of
Propaganda in Presidential Election 2014 & Governor
Election 2017
 Public distrust towards Mainstream Media

16. 6. Electronic Information and Transaction Law No
11 of 2008
& Its Revised
 The Revised of Electronic Information and
Transaction Law No 11 of 2008 was issued in 2016 :
In attention to security and legal certainy in the usage
of information technology, media, and
communications, in order to develop in an optimal
manner.
 There are accordingly three approaches to maintain
cyberspace security, i.e. :
- legal aspect
- technological aspect,
- social, cultural, and ethics aspect

17. 7. Positioning and Empowering Mainstream
Media as War Against Hoax
To ensure press freedom and to meet the public
right to obtain correct information :
 Indonesian journalist requires a moral foundation
and professional ethics as guidance for securing
the public trust
 Upholding Professionalism of Media and
Journalist, stick to principles of journalism and
Code of ethics of Journalism.
 Digital Literacy and Media Literacy Programs by
Press Council of Indonesia
 Journalist Competence Sertification

18. National and Regional Cooperations
 National
- MoU Indonesian Press Council with The Indonesian
Police
- MoU Indonesian Press Council with The Indonesian
Military
 Regional
In 2016 :
- MoU Press Council of Indonesia with Press Council
of Thailand, Timor Leste dan Myanmar, including to
help the establishment of a Press Council Timor Leste
and Myanmar, where the structure of organization and
work patterns of Indonesian Press Council have been
adopted.