Especially during moments of crisis like during yesterday’s deadly attacks around Sarinah in Central Jakarta, it is the job of responsible journalists to show sensitivity to the victims and not to spread false rumors. Three Indonesian TV stations – TV One, Indosiar and iNews – as well as radio station Elshinta, are receiving sanctions from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) for violating those principles during their coverage of yesterday’s horrific attacks.
KPI is handing out the sanctions for different violations of the 2012 Code of Conduct for Broadcasters and Broadcast Program Standards in each station’s coverage .
The TV program “Breaking News” on TV One is being sanctioned for displaying bodies lying near the Sarinah Police Station without any attempt to blur them.
The program is also being criticized for displaying inaccurate information, including relaying hoaxes about additional explosions being heard in Slipi, Kuningan and Cikini.
“The sentence that appears on screen, though later corrected, has caused public unrest,” said KPI Commissioner of Broadcast Content Supervision, Agatha Lily, in a written statement released Thursday night as picked up by Kompas.
“It violates the principles of journalism about the accuracy of the news as well as a ban on displaying pictures of victims or bodies in detail,” she said.
KPI also sanctioned Indosiar and iNews TV news programs for showing bodies around the Sarinah Police Station without any attempt to blur them for their audience. Misinformation about explosions taking place in Palmerah were also reported by iNews TV.
Radio station Elshinta also received sanctions for reporting on rumors about explosions outside of Sarinah without receiving verification.
Administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings has been sent by KPI to all of the broadcasters mentioned above, in the hopes that they will serve as a warning to others.
“Broadcasters should be aware of the power entrusted in broadcasting, which is to provide true, balanced, and responsible information,” Agatha said.
