Indonesian journalist organisations have expressed concerns over press freedom and investigative journalism following proposed changes to the broadcasting law in the country. The Press Council stated that the amended broadcasting bill goes against principles outlined in the press law and could lead to poor journalism in the future. The bill, initially introduced in 2020, was finalized in October 2023 and has faced criticism for its restrictive provisions.
One major point of contention is a clause that bans the exclusive broadcasting of investigative journalism content, which is seen as contradicting the press law that emphasizes the importance of investigative journalism for quality reporting. The bill also aims to expand the authority of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission in resolving journalistic disputes, a role currently held by the Press Council. Critics argue that this change could lead to overlapping jurisdictions and undermine the Press Council’s ability to address public complaints.
The bill has been met with opposition from journalist associations who fear that it will limit press freedom in the country. Critics argue that the proposed changes ignore the press law and could hinder the development of quality journalism in broadcasting. The drafting process of the bill has also been criticized for lacking meaningful public participation and for excluding the Press Council from the process. The Minister of Communication and Informatics has questioned the rationale behind provisions that could result in the ban of investigative journalism.
In response to public outcry, members of the legislature involved in drafting the bill have stated that it is not finalized and are open to input from the public and journalism community. The Chairman of the house’s legislation body has pledged to address the contentious issues as soon as possible and to consider input from stakeholders. While acknowledging the need for caution in exercising press freedom, lawmakers have emphasized that journalism should ultimately serve the public interest.
Overall, the proposed changes to the broadcasting law in Indonesia have raised concerns about press freedom and the future of investigative journalism in the country. Criticisms of the bill include provisions that could restrict the broadcasting of investigative content and undermine the authority of the Press Council. Lawmakers have stated that the bill is not final and are open to input from the public and journalism community. It remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and what impact the final version of the bill will have on press freedom and journalistic integrity in Indonesia.
