Awards celebrate Indonesian media

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Five prominent figures from the press will receive lifetime achievement awards in commemoration of National Press Day and the 62nd anniversary of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) here Saturday.

The recipients are Sabam Siagian from The Jakarta Post; Jakob Oetama, founder of Kompas newspaper; Djafar H. Assegaff, PWI secretary general; the late Atang Ruswita, founder of Pikiran Rakyat daily; and former deputy chief of the Press Council, the late RH Siregar.

Sabam, a member of the Post's board of directors, said the award was a reminder for him to continue communicating to younger journalists why the profession is an honorable one, despite the encroaching effects of capital and the electronic media in journalism.

"The inner core of journalism remains the same, which is to uphold truth and fairness, and always fight for the common people," he said.

Sasongko Tedjo, regional chief coordinator of the 2008 event, said all award recipients had devoted their lives to journalism.

"These five people undoubtedly played major roles in the development of our domestic press. They took part in the building of our nation," he said.

He added that the commemoration would be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who would also launch the Mass Newspaper Reading Movement for some 10,000 high school students.

Sasongko said the movement was meant to increase interest in reading, especially among the younger generation.

"There is a lack of interest in reading among the younger generation ... which is why print media circulation is experiencing a national decline," he said.

This year's commemoration activities, which began Thursday and will end Sunday, are focused on a convention titled "Press perspective of the Indonesia 2030 Vision".

Several prominent figures spoke during the event, including People's Consultative Assembly speaker Hidayat Nurwahid, who said the press should not only criticize but also provide solutions.

"I wish the press did not only sensationalize stories and criticize. The readers are already critical themselves and they don't just want criticism, they also want solutions," he said.

Results from the convention's discussion will be passed on to the President as a contribution from the press regarding the nation's direction up to 2030.

National Press Day was commemorated for the first time in 1985 and dedicated to the PWI, which was founded in 1946.

During the New Order era, the PWI was the only government-sanctioned press organization. An alternative press association critical to the government, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), was formed in 1994 and grew stronger following the reform movement that put an end to Soeharto's New Order regime in 1998.

There are now more than 20 press organizations in the country.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono attends the commemoration of the National Press Day, Semarang, Saturday (2/9). The Head of State asks the media to use language which could help build the national character. He knew that the press` language should be sharp, but it should not be rough. (ANTARA/R Rekotomo/es)