“If, for example, we ask for state involvement, the key is finding a balance - how the government can participate without undermining our independence. Any policy must not be discriminatory. It must be fair,” Member of the Expert Council of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), Wahyu Muryadi, said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Wahyu said government involvement in policy formulation reflects the growing challenges faced by the media industry, including mass layoffs and the rapid expansion of social media platforms.
“We are still facing mass layoffs. Over the past three years, the Indonesian press has undergone the largest shake-up in its history. The Press Council recorded at least 1,200 layoffs in the television media sector during 2023–2024,” he said.
He added that a prosperous and sustainable media ecosystem has yet to be achieved. According to Wahyu, Indonesia’s press freedom ranking has also declined.
“When we talk about the press freedom index, Indonesia’s ranking dropped from 111 in 2024 to 127 in 2025,” he said.
Wahyu emphasized that the formulation of new policies could help address these challenges, noting that many media organizations continue to struggle financially.
He said government intervention could take the form of fiscal incentives for media companies, stressing that further dialogue between the press and the state is needed to ensure such policies are implemented properly.
“This could include tax incentives for printing, for example. Although in the digital era, that may no longer be fully relevant. Other tax-related measures could be discussed if necessary, but they should not create new burdens for the media,” he said.
Wahyu concluded that discussions on media-related issues, such as those held at the 2025 Mass Media Kaleidoscope, are essential to improving the welfare and sustainability of Indonesia’s media industry in the years ahead.
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Translator: Benardy, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Primayanti
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