Senior journalist Rosihan Anwar meanwhile said he did not share Dipo Alam`s view that the press is a power stakeholder. He said the orientation of the press is not power.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Some press figures deplored cabinet secretary Dipo Alam`s recent statement to boycott certain media organizations, considering it as being exaggerated and incorrect.
"I deplored it. He may say he does not like this or that but must not give a verdict. The call for a boycott is a verdict and it harasses press freedom," Fikri Jufri said at the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) building here on Thursday.
"I wish it was just a "slip of the tongue" because I know Dipo Alam who was then a student activist of state University of Indonesia," he said.
He said he had known Dipo Alam since the late Ali Sadikin as a Jakarta governor. At the time Dipo Alam was one of the student activists that protested the government`s policy and supported Ali Sadikin.
Senior journalist Rosihan Anwar meanwhile said he did not share Dipo Alam`s view that the press is a power stakeholder. He said the orientation of the press is not power.
"The press is not a power as power is identical with politics. Politics about power is ability to control government, force will, mobilize police force. The press is not like that," he said.
He said the press does not have power to force its will because its job is mere gathering information and seeking access to information to spread it to the public. The press does not have an authority to impose its will on the people.
Culturalist Arswendo Atmowiloto shared Rosihan saying that "the press is often called a bee without a sting."
Cabinet secretary Dipo Alam has recently called for government agencies to boycott certain television stations and a newspaper by not putting up ads there as the stations and newspaper had always sought to smear the government.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
