I laud the mass media that has conducted verification through fact-checking to combat false news, especially in COVID-19 handling and vaccination.Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives' (DPR's) Speaker Puan Maharani in a statement on Wednesday, affirmed that the Indonesian press plays an important role in tackling false information or hoaxes that spread among members of the public.
"I laud the journalistic work of the mass media in tackling hoaxes during the commemoration of National Press Day (HPN) on February 9," she affirmed.
"I would like to say happy 2022 National Press Day," she remarked.
The influx of unbridled information, or infodemic, has permeated to public spaces through various digital platforms, according to Maharani. This phenomenon has frequently caused people to be exposed to hoaxes.
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"For instance, hoaxes on vaccine. Mass media has an important job to clarify these misinformation and hoaxes," she noted.
Journalists' current struggle is to help the public to receive accurate information, she remarked. Journalists should function as gatekeepers to verify news on issues that spread among members of the public, she opined.
"I lauded the mass media that has conducted verification through fact-checking to combat false news, especially in COVID-19 handling and vaccination," she remarked.
The speaker also expects the press to not forget its obligation to edify the public, especially since the press is the fourth pillar of democracy.
She also reminded the press to always stay true to its obligation to prioritize the general public.
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To this end, she expects press workers to uphold the principle of fulfilling the public's rights to receive accurate, truthful, and even-handed information.
"Speed should be followed by news accuracy. The key is that the press should be disciplined in conducting verification, they should be even-handed, and they should be independent," Maharani noted.
The speaker stressed her commitment to supporting the freedom of press, as it is a right given by the Constitution.
However, the freedom of the press should still be followed by a sense of responsibility and professionalism and should be based on upholding the journalistic code of ethics.
During the commemoration of the 2022 HPN, Maharani prayed that the quality of Indonesian press would improve in terms of providing information to the people.
Good journalistic work will yield several benefits to every aspect of society, she stated.
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Translator: Imam B, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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