Jakarta – There are around 80,000 journalists in Indonesia, but only 9,000 have been certified by the Indonesian Press Council, Indonesian Journalists Association secretary-general Hendry Ch. Bangun said at the Germany-Indonesia Media Dialogue in Jakarta on Monday (07/11).

Indonesia doesn't have any specific regulations or set of guidelines governing the profession. The only regulation is the 1999 Press Law aims to protect journalists. However, this at times falls short of its intended purpose. With the lack of adequate guidance, there is a greater need for journalists in Indonesia to understand and adhere to the Indonesian Journalist Code of Conduct.

According to the Indonesian Press Council survey in 2012, only 41 percent of journalists have read the code. While the other 59 percent says that they have only read half of it or have not read it at all.

Hendry believes that the figures are in line with the number of complaints that the council receives about the lack of news coverage on certain issues, news bias generally as well as information being published that is factually incorrect.

"Journalists have a special place in the society so it's often mistakenly used by irresponsible people just to get money," Hendry said referring to the practice of those who accept money in exchange for publishing work that is favorable to the donor.

In Indonesia, there are no set of guidelines for compensation and salary. Hendry explained that many journalists are underpaid and some work on a commission basis and only receive compensation after securing advertisers, contrary to the internationally established practice that journalists should remain impartial from those with vested interests.

According to the same data, there are 2,000 online news outlets across Indonesia and there are 3,500 media outlets including print media, television and radio. Despite the number of outlets, Hendry says there is still room for improvement.

"The media have been absent in covering gender bias and issues affecting women, the poor, children and sick people," Hendry added.

He also said that media owners tend to step in and choose what events should get coverage and what should not and this interference extends to politics. In addition to the intervention, violence against journalists is still a common occurrence in Indonesia, Hendry said.

On Aug. 15 this year, a violent clash occurred in Medan Polonia, Medan, between the Indonesian Air Force and local residents. During the event, two male journalists claim to have been physically abused and another female journalist alleges that she was violated by air force personnel.

More recently, during the rally against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama last Friday, a journalist claims to have been physically assaulted and the memory card of his digital camera was snatched by the protesters.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/lack-adequate-guidelines-prove-difficult-journalists-indonesia-pwi/