Code of Journalistic Ethics: Ethics Professional Journalists in Indonesia

JOURNALIST is a profession. In other words, the reporter is a professional, like a doctor, midwife, teacher, or lawyer. A job can be referred to as a profession if it has four of the following, as stated an Indian scholar, Dr. Lakshamana Rao:There shall be freedom of the earlier work.There should be a call and attachment to the job.There should be a skill (expertise).There should be a responsibility attached to the job code. (Assegaf, 1987).I think the reporter (Indonesia) meets the four criteria profesioal.1. Journalists have freedom called freedom of the press, the freedom to seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information. Law no. 40/1999 on the Press said, freedom of the press is guaranteed as a basic right of citizens, even the national press is not subject to censorship, bans, or bans broadcasting (Article 4, paragraphs 1 and 2). Parties try to hinder freedom of the press can be imprisoned up to two years in prison or a maximum Rp 500 million dena (Article 18 paragraph 1).Nevertheless, freedom here is limited by the obligation to respect the norms of religion and a sense of moral community and the presumption of innocence (Article 5, paragraph 1).Indeed, in addition, in practice, freedom of the press, as pioneered by the initiators of Libertarian Press, ultimately, more enjoyed by the owners of capital or media owner. As a result, journalists and writers should be subject to the interest of the owner or at least the vision, mission, and rubrikasi media. A newspaper in London and often "castrate" in addition to her own creativity journalist-black list a number of writers did not like.2. Journalists working hours are 24 hours a day because of the events that have diliputnya often unpredictable and can happen anytime. As a professional, journalists had to go into the field to cover it. That calls and attachment to work as a journalist. In fact, journalists sometimes have to work in danger. They want-and rightly so-to be the first to get news and recognize the leaders and famous people.3. Journalists have a particular expertise, that expertise search, reporting and writing news, including writing and speaking skills in English Journalism.4. Journalists have and comply with the Code of Ethics of Journalism (Article 7 paragraph (2) Law no. 40/1999 on the Press). Mentioned in the explanation, which is the Code of Ethics of Journalism is an agreed Code of Conduct established by the organization of journalists and the Press Council.Code of Journalistic Ethics (KEJ) first issued issued PWI (Indonesian Journalists Association). KEJ, among other sets.News obtained by dishonest means.Check the accuracy of the news or information before broadcast (check and recheck).As best he could distinguish between the occurrence of (fact) and opinion (opinion).Respect and protect the position of news sources who asked not to be named. In this case, a journalist should not tell me where he got the message if the person who gave him to keep it a secret.Not preaching information given off the record (for your eyes only).Being honest in citing sources cite news or article from a newspaper or publication, for the solidarity of the profession.As Indonesia entered the reform era with the end of the New Order regime, organization of journalists who had been "single", which just PWI, a lot. So, KEJ is only "valid" for journalists who are members of PWI. However, the organization of journalists who appeared besides PWI also take seriously the Journalists Code of Ethics. On August 6, 1999, as many as 24 of the 26 organizations and journalists gathered in Bandung Indonesia signed Journalists Code of Ethics (KEWI). Most of the content is similar to KEJ PWI. KEWI cored seven terms as follows:Indonesian journalists to respect the public's right to correct information.Indonesian journalists to take ethical procedures to obtain and relay information and provide the identity of the source of information.Indonesian journalists to respect the presumption of innocence, not to confuse fact with opinion, balanced, and always check the accuracy of the information and is not plagiarism.Indonesian journalists not to broadcast information that is false, defamatory, violent, obscene, and not to mention the moral identity of crime victims.Indonesian journalists do not take bribes and do not abuse the profession.Indonesia has a Right to Reject journalists, respect the provisions of the embargo, background information, and off the record according to the agreement.Indonesian journalists immediately revoke and rectify errors in reporting and serve right answer.KEWI then defined as the Code of Ethics that applies to all journalists in Indonesia. Determination made by the Press Council as mandated by Law no. 40 of 1999 on the Press through the Press Council Decree No.. 1/SK-DP/2000 dated June 20, 2000.Establishment of a Code of Conduct is to ensure the enforcement of press freedom and the fulfillment of the rights of the people. Code must be moral or professional ethics that can guide operational integrity and professionalism in upholding journalists. Supervision and sanctions for violations of the code of conduct is entirely left to the ranks of the press and implemented by organizations established for it.KEWI have the full attention of all journalists. That is if it really wants to uphold the image and position of journalists as "professionals". At least, that KEWI monitored internally by the owner or management editor respective media.