Ina Parlina – A survey by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) found that the majority of journalists in Jakarta are underpaid, a condition that could have an adverse impact on their independence especially ahead of the 2014 elections.

In the survey, conducted earlier this year, the Jakarta branch of AJI set the benchmark for the salary of a journalist who has worked for at least one year at Rp 5.4 million (US$555) a month.

However, AJI Jakarta discovered in the survey that most media companies in Jakarta paid their journalists between Rp 3 million and Rp 4 million. AJI Jakarta found that several media companies paid their journalists Rp 2.2 million per month, the provincial minimum wage.

The watchdog group also found that corporate spending on journalists' salaries was still very low compared to total sales.

The wage bill for journalists with the Jawa Pos Group, one of the largest media conglomerates in the country, for instance accounts only for eight percent of its total sales. Tempo Media Group meanwhile spent 12.39 percent on journalists' pay in 2012.

"Those are far below Singapore Press Holdings, with a journalist wage bill of 29.3 percent of total sales and Star Publication in Malaysia with 37.12 percent," AJI Jakarta said in a statement.

With most journalists on such low pay, AJI Jakarta was concerned that ahead of the 2014 elections, the media would be prone to abuse by political parties.

"This situation, coupled with the low welfare of journalists, puts the impartiality of newsrooms in great danger as media ownership is in the hands of a few businessmen and politicians," AJI Jakarta chairman Umar Idris said on Tuesday. "Journalists will be the one who are disadvantaged the most."

AJI Jakarta was also concerned about the media being abused by their owners to pursue their political goals. "The owners must keep their media outlets independent," Umar said.