Minister Yasonna Refers to Press as Voices of Truth; 'Must Survive Pandemic'
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8 February 2021 19:41 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly on Monday said that the press must not lose out or perish due to the many challenges that the pandemic has posed. “Who else will voice and oversee the truth if not the press,” said Yasonna in a virtual discussion commemorating the National Press Day on Monday, February 8.
Yasonna said the truth and criticism must be voiced out responsibly and acknowledged that it could only be done by official press or mass media outlets, as opposed to popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram
According to Yasonna, the press is the essence of a democratic nation and the fourth pillar apart from the trias politika or the separation of powers. He also encouraged the press to continue existing to guarantee a healthy democracy in Indonesia.
Yasonna Laoly also acknowledged the stringent competition in the digital realm, and thus he suggested the press to integrate with new platforms in a move dubbed "media convergence." He also made sure that the Law and Human Rights Ministry was open to stakeholders in discussing media convergence.
Read: Govt Claims Digital Literacy Low, Solicits Mass Media Assistance
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