Asia: Indonesia

Indonesian Journalist Code of Ethics

Current Status: unknown

The Code of Ethics of the Indonesian Journalist adopted at Bandung on 6 August 1999, by 26 journalists’ organizations; it is followed by an “interpretation” of the code drafted in Jakarta on 1 September 1999.

Press freedom is a means to fulfill the basic human right to communicate and to obtain information. In exercising press freedom the Indonesian journalist realizes the existence of social responsibility and social plurality. So as to ensure the preservation of press freedom and the fulfilling of the public’s rights, a moral/professional ethical code of ethics is required that can serve as an operational guideline in the preservation of the integrity and professionalism of the journalist. Therefore the Indonesian journalists have declared the following code of ethics:

1. The Indonesian journalist respects the public’s right to obtain truthful information.

2. The Indonesian journalist pursues the ethical path in obtaining and publishing information as well as in identifying the source of information.

3. The Indonesian journalist respects the principle of presumption of innocence, refrains from mixing facts with opinions, observes balance, always checks the accuracy of any information, and avoids plagiarism.

4. The Indonesian journalist refrains from publishing information of false, slanderous, sadistic or indecent nature and omits mentioning the identity of the victim of any moral crime.

5. The Indonesian journalist does not accept bribes and refrains from abusing his/her profession.

6. The Indonesian journalist has the Right of Refuse (the right not to reveal confidential sources) and respects stipulations on embargo, background information, and off-the-record statements as agreed upon.

7. The Indonesian journalist shall immediately retract and correct any erroneous and inaccurate report and satisfy the Right of Reply.

Control on the observance of this code and application of sanctions for any breach of this code are completely left to the discretion of the press community and shall be implemented by the organization that is to be formed for that purpose.

Bandung, August 6, 1999.
On behalf of the respective Indonesian journalists organizations.

Interpretation of the Indonesian Journalist’s Code of Ethics
1. The Indonesian journalist respects the public’s right to obtain truthful information.

The devout and God-fearing Indonesian journalist reports and publishes information factually and based on clear sources, does not hide facts and opinions that are important and interesting and that the public should know as its right to get truthful, accurate information.

Cases in point: corruption and manipulation at any institution, either government-run or privately-owned; conspiracy to create unrest; epidemics hitting certain regions/areas; foodstuff containing dangerous ingredients and/or is not “halal” for consumption by the community/public, etc.

2. The Indonesian journalist pursues the ethical path in obtaining and publishing information as well as in identifying the source of information.

The Indonesian journalist obtains information from any news source/interviewee, in-cluding documents and photographs, through ways that are legally accountable and in line with the principles of journalism, except in the case of investigative reporting.

3. The Indonesian journalist respects the principle of presumption of innocence, refrains from mixing facts with opinions, observes balance, always checks the accuracy of any information, and avoids plagiarism.

The Indonesian journalist in reporting and publishing information refrains from making judgements or conclusions that blame anyone,  particularly  in cases still in a legal process. The journalist shall not insert his/her personal opinion. In reporting and publishing information it is advisable for the journalist to recheck the accuracy of the information.

In reporting disputes or differences of opinion, the journalist shall observe balance in devoting space/time to each side.

The Indonesian journalist refrains from publishing information of false, slanderous, sadistic or indecent nature and omits mentioning the identity of the victim of any moral crime.

4. The Indonesian journalist refrains from reporting or publishing information the source and accuracy of which are unclear, rumors or unfounded partisan accusations, information that blatantly exposes private parts of the body that can arouse passion or invites public controversy. In cases of rapes/sexual harassment, the jour-nalist shall not mention the identity of the victim, so as to respect and protect the vic-tim’s honor.

5. The Indonesian journalist does not accept bribes and refrains from abusing his/her profession.

The Indonesian journalist always guards the honor of his/her profession by not accepting compensation in any form from any news source/interviewee that is related to his/her journalistic duties, and by not abusing his/her profession for personal or group’s gain.

6. The Indonesian journalist has the Right of Refuse, and respects stipulations on embargo, background information, and off-the-record statements as agreed upon.

The Indonesian journalist protects any source that refuses to be named or identified. On the basis of advance agreement, the wish of a source for postponement of the publication of information he/she has given, must be respected. The same goes for background information.

7. The Indonesian journalist shall immediately retract and correct any erroneous news report and satisfy the Right of Reply.

The Indonesian journalist immediately retracts and corrects any erroneous and inaccurate reporting or publication and at the same time offers apologies.

Corrections are placed on the same page as the erroneous or inaccurate information.
When a report offends a person or group of persons, the offended party must be given ample opportunity to make clarifications.

Control on the observance of this code and application of sanctions for any breach of this code are completely left to the discretion of the press community and shall be implemented by the organization that is to be formed for that purpose.

Jakarta, 1 September 1999