The role of mass media becomes very vital when all parties need information quickly and accurately regarding the implementation of democratic parties, both general elections and regional elections in Indonesia. The press has an important role in disseminating information regarding the process and provisions of the Election/Pilkada, the performance of Election/Pilkada participants, as well as the rights and obligations of voters. In current developments, the mass media is required to prioritize information as an independent (neutral) tool during the democratic party. For this reason, the active role of the media has a big role in making the 2024 regional elections safe and peaceful.
In an effort to increase journalists’ knowledge regarding reporting and writing news on the 2024 Election, the Press Council held a Workshop on Coverage of the 2024 Election and Pilkada, at the BW Luxury Hotel, Jambi City, on June 6 2024. The workshop was attended by media leaders verified by the Press Council, the organization journalist professions include the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), and press company organizations, such as JMSI, SMSI, SPS, and others.
This activity was held to provide an understanding of the position of the press in elections and regional elections, as well as efforts to improve the quality of coverage and news in creating a better democracy.
Chairman of the Press Council, Ninik Rahayu, said that upholding democracy is very important through professional reporting and integrity. We need to guard democracy. Not just talking about peaceful elections, but also ensuring they run in a quality manner.
Elections are the embodiment of true democracy. The role of journalists is very vital in this process. Evaluation of journalists’ involvement in elections needs to be carried out as a function of the press. The 2024 election is the biggest election in Indonesia, therefore it is important for the press to be firm in the principles of truth. The press must not be influenced by newsrooms, conglomerates, capital owners and media owners. The press must be free and independent, because this is a big challenge.
Ninik explained that the intimidation in the field that journalists face is a challenge. Therefore, the truth conveyed by journalists needs to be appreciated. He hopes that the workshop in Jambi can bring up the best ideas in covering and reporting the regional elections, so that it will have a good impact on democracy in Indonesia in the future.
Another press organization that has contributed to the success of the democratic party in Indonesia is the Sekadau Regency Journalists Association (IWAS). They held a Coffee Morning for the Media Crew of Sekadau Regency, West Kalimantan Province ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections at Lupung Coffee Sekadau, on June 8 2024.
Chairman of IWAS, Krisantus, said that this activity was carried out in order to strengthen friendship and unite perceptions in order to make the simultaneous regional elections in 2024 a success which will be held on November 27. The media has a big role in influencing the success of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections. Therefore, it is hoped that the media can convey correct, valid and balanced information, so that the media can also become a space for political education for the public.
This commitment must be carried out so that the democratic party can run safely, smoothly and peacefully without hoaxes so that the goals can be achieved. He also hopes that journalists in Sekadau Regency will always be united and united, provide news by adhering to moral principles and journalistic ethics and together prevent the spread of hoax news and hate speech.
Krisantus also invited all media crew in Sekadau Regency to support the success of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections by maintaining integrity and professionalism in carrying out journalistic duties. On that occasion, a commitment reading was also carried out with all media crew in Sekadau Regency.
The Regional General Election Commission (KPUD) of Rokan Hilir Regency also held a Coffee Morning with the police, prosecutor’s office and Press Personnel from various media in order to realize simultaneous regional elections in 2024 that were fair, peaceful and of high quality, in the KPUD Media Center Hall, Jalan Batu Empat Bagansiapiapi District, Rokan Hilir , Riau Province.
Chairman of the Rokan Hilir KPUD, Eka Murlan, said that the role of the press is very important in the democratic party process, such as during the implementation stages of the regional elections. Apart from that, to convey information related to the stages of the simultaneous regional elections, the function of the press is also as a social control institution, so that what the KPUD carries out as the organizer of the democratic party in the simultaneous regional elections can run well, smoothly, orderly and safely.
The responsibility for making the 2024 regional elections a success does not only lie with the KPU, but is our collective responsibility, including the media. The media must continue to be committed to presenting balanced and neutral or cover informationboth sides , so that people get correct and balanced information. With actual information, it can strengthen and convince the public to become part of the democratic party. Therefore, the role of the media must continue to be monitored so that it remains upright with applicable regulations.