With open, transparent, and accountable information as well as cooperation among all parties, we can create a conducive situation. The government can adopt a proper policy fast, while the public can understand it and cope with the pandemic with accurJakarta (ANTARA) - Information transparency is an important factor in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
"With open, transparent, and accountable information as well as cooperation among all parties, we can create a conducive situation. The government can adopt a proper policy fast, while the public can understand it and cope with the pandemic with accurate information," Jokowi remarked here at the commemoration of National Broadcasting Day shared through the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube account on Thursday.
National Broadcasting Day is observed on April 1, the day when Indonesia's first radio broadcasting Solosche Radio Vereeniging (SRV) was established in Surakarta, Central Java, in 1933.
The government declared April 1 as National Broadcasting Day under Presidential Decree No. 9 of 2019.
Jokowi has recalled the demand for Indonesia's broadcasting industry to provide transparent and fast information to the public.
"Currently, we are in the era of overwhelming information. Everyone can obtain information fast. Everyone can easily produce information. Everyone can immediately disseminate information. As a consequence, abundant and transparent information is a necessity," Jokowi remarked at the initial observance of National Broadcasting Day.
The need to obtain fast and transparent information was apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the public attempted to obtain information on ways to prevent virus transmission and the government's move to handle the pandemic, he remarked.
Jokowi has applauded the Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPI), broadcasting institutions, and all stakeholders that have provided accurate information since the start of the pandemic, including public education on health protocols and dissemination of the government's policy on economic recovery.
However, the head of state believes it would be a challenge for the industry to provide balanced information, with the development of digital information that has opened wider access to information for the public.
"We need to work jointly, so that people could get accurate, qualified, and educative information to improve information literacy and have developed new creative and interesting channels for the public to obtain healthy and accurate information," Jokowi stated.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
