There will be no representation of publishers in the committee membership to avoid a conflict of interest.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The 11-member publisher rights committee set up to execute Presidential Regulation Number 32 of 2024 will not include representatives of media outlets to prevent a conflict of interest, Press Council head Ninik Rahayu said.

Speaking to journalists here on Tuesday, she informed that this would be in accordance with Article 14 of the Presidential Regulation Number 32 of 2024 on the Responsibilities of Digital Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism.

Article 14 stipulates that the committee's members be drawn from the Press Council and ministry and include digital platform specialists who do not represent or are affiliated with any media outlet.

"There will be no representation of publishers in the committee membership to avoid a conflict of interest," Rahayu said, adding that the committee's philosophical and normative duty is finding ways to resolve disputes between Indonesia's publishers and digital platforms.

Therefore, there would be a conflict of interest if publishers are committee members because digital platforms would also call for equal treatment, she argued.

Instead, the conflicting parties would be represented by professional IT specialists or international law experts in the committee, she disclosed.

If they need information, insight, or other information related to media outlets, the professionals could invite them, Rahayu added.

The Press Council earlier formed a task force and selection team for the committee's members, who will execute the regulation that was approved by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on February 20, 2024.

As of Monday (March 4), the task force has finished devising a framework that will be used by the selection team members as a guideline for recruiting the committee members.

The selection team has three months to select the committee members.

ANTARA reported earlier that President Widodo has signed the presidential regulation on publishers' rights as a form of the government's support for quality journalism.

According to Widodo, content creators do not need to worry that the regulation will hinder their cooperation with digital platforms.

The regulation, which will take effect within six months of issuance, has been devised to level the playing field for local mass media players and digital platforms to prevent digital disruptions from eroding the conventional mass media industry in Indonesia.

The regulation, which was initiated three years ago, also aims to encourage cooperation between the two parties to support sustainable journalism.

It is expected to provide a legal basis and serve as a reference for cooperation between media companies and digital platforms to support quality journalism that is free from negativity.

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Translator: Nadia PR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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