TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - "In the past, pressure on the press came from the government, today it's the media putting pressure on the government," lamented President Joko Widodo at
the National Press Day commemoration in Lombok on Tuesday, February 9.
So it should be, Mr. President, the press is after all the nation's watchdog, monitoring the government's every move so the people are not misruled by negative elements in it.
No, the headlines cannot always be optimistic. That would be unreal. Some will be pessimistic and the government must deal with them appropriately.
Meanwhile, the media must also ensure that the news and information published are correct and objective.
Balance. That's all we ask for.