All About Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism

Currently, intense debates are ongoing regarding the draft Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on Quality Journalism in Indonesia. These debates have arisen as a response to the government's efforts to regulate journalism in the digital era.

A central point of contention is the existence of digital platform companies opposing the draft. Issues related to publisher rights and digital platform obligations, content supervision, as well as responsibility for news on online platforms, are the main focus of this ongoing debate.

Amidst the heated debate, the Indonesian Press Council is seen working to navigate this complex situation. The organization is striving to find a wise approach to respond to the draft of the Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism without sacrificing the interests of any party.

In fulfilling its supervisory role, the Indonesian Press Council is aiming to maintain a balance between media rights, digital platform responsibilities, as well as the integrity and independence of journalism. To delve into this further, here is a summary of their discussion.

What is the Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism?

On the occasion of National Press Day, which falls on February 9th, President Joko Widodo expressed his high hopes for the establishment of a presidential regulation (Perpres) governing journalism in the digital era.

President Jokowi emphasized the importance of assigning responsibilities to global digital platforms like Google and Facebook to contribute economically to local and national media for the news content they distribute.

This regulation, also known as the "Presidential Regulation on Digital Platform Responsibility for Quality Journalism" or the Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism, addresses several key issues relevant to the sustainability of the media industry in the digital era.

One of the key issues addressed in the draft Perpres is "Publisher Rights," which will provide media outlets with the opportunity to receive royalties from global digital platforms for the news content they generate.

With this Perpres, it is expected that global media can receive fair economic recognition in an era where digital platforms often use content without adequately compensating the original news creators.

Contents of the Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism

Up to this point, the Perpres is still in the draft stage and has not been approved by President Joko Widodo. The contents of the Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism include:

Purpose

This Perpres aims to strengthen the responsibilities of digital platform companies in supporting quality journalism, enhancing the quality of information consumed by the public, and improving the well-being of journalists.

Definition

This Perpres defines quality journalism as accurate, balanced, and beneficial information for the public.

Responsibilities of Digital Platform Companies

This Perpres mandates digital platform companies to:

• Include information about the press companies that produce the news they present.
• Include information about the funding sources of digital platform companies.
• Include information about the algorithms used to display news content.
• Pay royalties to press companies for the news they present.

Independent Committee

This Perpres establishes an Independent Committee tasked with overseeing the implementation of the regulation. The Independent Committee consists of representatives from the Press Council, the government, academics, and the community. However, the highest authority on this committee still lies with the Indonesian Press Council, as specified in the 1999 Press Law.

Emerging Debates

The Presidential Regulation on Quality Journalism has generated controversy from various parties. Some argue that this Perpres constitutes government intervention in press freedom. However, others believe that it is necessary to protect the public from inaccurate and misleading information.

Controversy arises particularly around algorithm oversight by digital platforms. Some are concerned that granting platforms the authority to assess content's compliance with journalistic ethics could disrupt the independence of the Press Council, which should ideally have the authority to oversee journalistic products.

Even major companies like Google have threatened to exit Indonesia if these aspects are not amended. Thus, the worst-case scenario could entail the unavailability of Google News in Indonesia, leading to declining media revenue.

Meanwhile, several professional organizations, including the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI), the Indonesian Online Media Association (AMSI), the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), and the Indonesian Digital Association (IDA), have called on President Joko Widodo to review the draft Perpres.

They hope to find the best solution that takes into account all parties involved, including media outlets, digital platforms, and the public.