AMSI on Press and Media's Role to Eradicate Gender Discrimination

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) Wenseslaus Manggut on Wednesday said the Press Law should serve as a guideline for journalists, especially cyber media. He emphasized the importance of journalists serving and reporting news for the public interest, which includes eliminating gender discrimination.

“In modern times like now, the media population has become rampant. This includes social media platforms that openly expose violence against the female gender,” said Wenseslaus in a written statement on April 12. 

Not only violence against women, he said, the media also exposes hate speech, bullying, and the identities or exploitation of children. "The media must draw a clear line of demarcation between themselves and platforms that are not touched by literacy," he said.

He thinks the media should be more sensitive, especially when it comes to children and women. On that basis, he said, AMSI has created an indicator of public trust, one of the 11 points compiled by AMSI is a trusted news guideline focusing on women and children's issues.

Chief of Party Internews Indonesia, Eric Sasono, mentioned the complex conditions in the Indonesian media ecosystem today, where according to him, there are still many media that has yet to implement the dissemination of education and literacy about the protection of women and children as vulnerable groups.

This, Eric argues, is due to the strong implementation of a patriarchal culture where media editorials and general audiences still tend to read about the exploitation of women and children.

"The implementation of trusted news is like a steep road due to changes in views and culture (Patriarchy) in Indonesia," he said.

Eric said that on paper, AMSI has started by implementing trustworthy news guidelines in its activities to collect public trust indicators as the basis for news operations in the editorial office.

Furthermore, the CEO of Kabar Group Indonesia (KGI) Network and regional coordinator of AMSI Eastern Indonesia, Upi Asmaradhana said AMSI accommodates the aspirations, ideas, and critical notes of AMSI members. It also opens to input from various parties ranging from government, corporations, and academics about the formulation of 11 indicators that have been made through a long process.

"The purpose of the 11 trust news indicator items is as a technical guideline for the editorial crew to build interaction with the audience, maintain public trust, as well as brand safety," Upi said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Press Council Ninik Rahayu said the Press Council welcomed and appreciated AMSI's efforts in building a trusted news indicator. Not only does it focus on the trust of press companies at large, but the socialized indicators also ensure the elimination of gender-based discrimination.

"The press influences the formation of opinions and attitudes of individuals and society, as well as being a medium for the elimination of gender-based discrimination," said Ninik.

She considered the reciprocal relationship between the press and social norms in society, shaping social interaction and social change. The challenge is that the press must be able to absorb patriarchal perspectives and gender-based discrimination in society.

The second series of Trusted News Indicator workshops were attended by 50 participants from all AMSI regions in Indonesia. The third series is set to be held in May 2023 by raising public trust from the perspective of economic and business actors.

MUTIA YUANTISYA

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