"There are some requirements for state media in being a clearing house," Kansong remarked while opening a forum group discussion (FGD) themed "The Role of State Media in the Making the 2024 Elections Peaceful" here on Thursday.
State media, including ANTARA News Agency, national radio broadcasting institution RRI, and public broadcaster TVRI, attended the FGD.
Kansong remarked that the state media, in being a clearing house for the flow of information, should be independent and that independence must be measured.
"The question is who are we siding with? It is something like that," he remarked.
He admitted that no mass media, including state media, is completely independent.
"We align with who? If we look at it, the right term (for ANTARA, RRI, and TVRI) is 'public media', not state media. That is, public broadcaster, public radio, public television," he explained.
In addition, he said that state media must, of course, side with the government as an organizational entity or agency and "not side with the government as individuals."
"Siding with the government, not with its officials. Stand with the state as an entity, not individuals," Kansong remarked.
On a separate occasion, Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics Nezar Patria stated that his side continues to supervise the radio frequency spectrum to prevent various potential abuses, especially during the 2024 elections.
Patria remarked that the dissemination of hoaxes and disinformation related to elections can be done through various means, including illegal radio frequency channels.
"We need to participate in making the 2024 election safe by securing our (radio) frequency space," he noted in the ministry's statement.
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Translator: Narda S, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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