By: Angling Parikesit )*
In modern society, media has a very important role, where media plays a role as a source of information and education in a relatively fast time. However the speed of spreading the news is sometimes not based on strong facts, so that the mainstream media such as newspapers remain the main reference.
The existence of public relations as a public body in a government institution is certainly very strategic in building a positive image of the institution, so that the public and media workers can access information accurately to reliable sources.
Currently the government is also anticipated for public information disclosure, and the media is a bridge of information between the government and the community, so that the public can also participate in overseeing various government programs that have been announced.
However, it would be dangerous if the media preached hoaxes that could potentially damage the sense of unity in Indonesia, there is already plenty of evidence in this world that shows that hoaxes are things that can be detrimental to many parties, even can also cause war.
Until whenever the media must play a role in maintaining political stability, because like food, if the information provided is information that is full of nutrition, of course the recipient of media products in the form of news and information, will be able to respond to the news wisely.
Moreover, Indonesia has a diversity of ethnicities and religions, the media are also required to be able to become a forum that is not offensive about SARA.
In addition to providing information, the media, both mass and electronic media, should be an educational institution for the wider community.
Because the media is supposed to preach something that is not only accurate and accurate, but can also add to the treasury of knowledge for the general public.
Based on Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution that freedom of press / media aims to guarantee two-way information transactions, between the Government and the public. The press is a media for the transfer of knowledge, understanding, common perception and community participation in overseeing government policies that are a consequence of the democratic system.
In addition, the media must also be able to direct the public to fully trust the government that the government will continue to struggle to prosper the Indonesian people with various policies and strategic steps taken.
Karyono Wibowo as Executive Director of the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) once said that the media has a very strategic role. His position is very important in social life.
In this case, the media seems to master its role to make people as people who are tolerant of differences, or people who are flammable and incited by provocative sentences.
It can be likened to the spread of hoax or hoax like the circulation of drugs. Which if left unchecked will endanger and harm the community.
In an all-digital era like this, hoaxes are criminal acts, hoaxes are said to be present from mental attitudes that override integrity.
Hoax can also be detrimental to many parties and ultimately impact the disruption of the development process. In March 2018, false news was spread about the existence of fake eggs until a video appeared to prove the existence of fake eggs.
What happened was astonishing, where because of the hoax, the turnover of eggs dropped by 30-40% because people were afraid to buy eggs. Not only that, the community was also in an uproar with the news about salt mixed with glass chips. The hoax news certainly has made the egg traders and breeders suffer losses.
Not only food business, even the president also never ceases to get a hoax that makes us clap forehead.
For example, after the revolving of the Perppu Ormas, many parties finally linked it to the figure of President Jokowi. Where the former Governor of DKI Jakarta is considered as a leader figure who is anti-Islam. In fact, the rules that stipulate the Santri day and the Sharia Banking Law were carried out during the Jokowi’s administration. Issues related to Jokowi’s anti-Islam had also been widely in the midst of Indonesian society.
Of course this should be a concern for the mainstream media to always escort and fight the hoax news with the facts, do not let the hoax make people distrust the performance of the government that is trying to build the nation and state.
)* The author is a social and political observer