Journalists, netizens slam proposed tweaks to Indonesia's broadcasting law

Changes will affect quality of reporting, go against press law which bans censorship, they say

- Hariz Baharudin

JAKARTA Journalist organisations and netizens in Indonesia have slammed proposed changes to the broadcasting law, saying this could stifle press freedom and affect the quality of news reporting.

They said the recent proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Bill risk lowering the quality of news reporting and go against the principles laid out in the country's press law, which bans censorship and has guaranteed press freedom since 1999.

Indonesia's Press Council rejected the proposed Bill at a press conference on May 14, with its chairwoman Ninik Rahayu saying: "The draft ignores the Press Law. This shows that the draft (is not aimed at) producing quality journalism in broadcasting."

Initially proposed in 2020, the Bill was finalised by lawmakers in October but was largely kept out of the public eye, before resurfacing at the House Legislation Body (Baleg) earlier in 2024.

The updated Bill is currently being discussed at the Baleg, and was thrust into the national spotlight when reactions to it started pouring in earlier in May.

A key point of contention is a provision that prohibits the exclusive broadcasting of investigative journalism content.

"The draft Broadcasting Bill prohibits the media from broadcasting investigative journalism. Investigative journalism is the crown of journalistic work," Ms Ninik told local media on the sidelines of a workshop in West Java on May 16.