the national press community must continue to self-introspect and improve its quality
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Chairperson Atal S. Depari opined that the 2022 National Press Day commemoration offers a momentum to assert the press' role in the nation's development as the fourth pillar of democracy.

"The diversity of the National Press Day commemoration events demonstrated the press' role as the fourth pillar of democracy to oversee various sectors in the life of the nation and people," Depari remarked while presenting the National Press Day commemoration event report in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, as observed virtually in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The chairperson pointed out that the journalism award, cultural award for regional leaders, writing clinic events, and launch of books written by journalists are among the 40 agendas that will take place during the National Press Day commemoration event.

Some other agendas conceived for the commemoration are various seminars to discuss issues and solutions pertaining to the mining, energy, tourism, and monetary sectors as well as an investment forum with ambassadors, he affirmed.

Depari also highlighted the importance of maintaining the quality of news and refraining from publishing biased, provocative, and sensationalist news, including by controlling the prevalence of online clickbait news that compromise on the journalism quality.

"The press must be able to control the prevalence of clickbait news in online journalism," he emphasized.

The chairperson also reiterated the importance of maintaining an independent media to ensure a healthy journalism culture in Indonesia.

Maintaining press integrity and quality of journalism must advance in unison along with efforts to encourage the government to grant publisher rights and economic incentives for Indonesian journalists, he stressed.

"While we invoke President Joko Widodo to assist journalists by supporting the publisher rights and economic incentives, the national press community must continue to self-introspect and improve its quality," Depari remarked.


Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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