By: Aditya akbar) *
In the C ovid-19 pandemic situation , the existence of correct information becomes very important. Apal a gi in the middle of the hustle and bustle of communication through social media. Its presence is often filled with unreliable content such as hoaxes or hoaxes. Therefore, the media are expected to remain objective in their reporting because they can develop optimism during the Covid-19 Pandemic .
Member of the Press Council Agung Dharmajaya said that news related to the pandemic starting from the beginning of the co-19 case in Indonesia began. According to him there are about 200,000 news articles relating to covid-19. Unfortunately, most of the content of the article presents news that tends to be tendentious and sensational.
In the midst of the co-19 pandemic, the media play a role in presenting information that is not only accurate, but also transmits messages that educate and can increase public optimism. So the information presented by the media can play a role as a supplement or vitamin in strengthening people’s mental and physical immunity.
On different occasions, former Press Council member Agus Sudibyo in a discussion titled ‘Optimistic Indonesia’; The Concrete Role of Media in Building the nation’s optimism through reporting.
Agus gave an example like the tsunami disaster in Japan, as there was a shared understanding of the press members, so that the photos and narratives issued by the media did not contain much sadness and ruins. It aims to arouse optimism and safeguard national interests.
Previously, Jodhi Yudono as Chairman of the Online Journalists Association in his presentation realized that he remained optimistic, that the media in Indonesia was able to make Indonesia better. That is because there are still many idealistic journalists with qualified capacity.
Optimism to get past the co-19 pandemic also arose from the Chairman of the Press Council, Muhammad Nuh, himself mentioning that during the corona virus pandemic, the majority of the media mostly raised positive topics. As with the recovery of patients who were previously exposed to the virus.
He said, the majority of news topics related to the patient’s recovery is expected to build optimism to the community related to the corona virus, but it also does not mean that the ferocity of the virus is underestimated.
That is, this certainly shows great hope to foster public optimism by providing optimism in the community.
He also reminded all media to maintain the journalistic code of ethics in reporting the corona virus pandemic in the country. It is intended that the press does not convey information that confuses the public later.
An attitude of optimism will certainly keep people from overpanic which actually adds to anxiety. So that the press has a very strategic role to spread optimism to the wider community to continue to struggle through the co-19 pandemic.
On a different occasion, the head of the Police Public Relations Division (Kadiv), Brigadier General Argo Yuwono argued that the attitude of optimism in dealing with the COVID-19 virus in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s delivery could be the main capital of the community to fight the spread and transmission of covid-19.
Argo also quoted what had been said by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, that the optimist would win against Corona.
He also said that there were a lot of reports in a number of mass media that could weaken public optimism, such as the problem of economic difficulties in the improper distribution of social assistance and so on.
For this reason, the former Karopenmas of the Police Public Relations Division explained that the important role of the media in providing positive information to the public is to increase the sense of optimism in the community in the face of the co-19 pandemic.
Argo suggested that the media also highlight the news about the government’s efforts to overcome the corona impact, and also the community’s enthusiasm to work together in overcoming social problems due to the co-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin appealed to the public not to be pessimistic in the face of the co-19 pandemic. He also ensured that the government had made various efforts in dealing with co-19.
Ma’ruf also said that there should be no pessimism. You can’t give up In religion you cannot despair, you must continue to be optimistic. As a warrior nation we have the passion to overcome.
A sense of optimism must indeed be fostered in the face of the corona virus pandemic. Some areas have shown an increasing trend of covid patients recovering and preparing to welcome new normal. In a situation like this the media as a presenter of information should be sensitive in maintaining public optimism.
) * The writer is a Literacy activist , living in East Jakarta
