Press council chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo (second from left) and House member Eko Hendro Purnomo (second from right). Tempo/Reza Syahputra

TEMPO.CO, Padang - Press Council chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo claimed that Indonesia holds world`s highest number of mass media with 47,000 mass media including print, radio, television and online media.

"From such figure, it breaks down into 2,000 print media, 674 radios, 523 television programs and the rest are online media," he said in Padang on Friday, Feb. 9.

Nevertheless, a lot of media are not qualified to be considered as mass media and they remain in operation as they are supported by regional budget (APBD).

Read: An Elusive Press

Furthermore, not all the reporters are competent as they lack knowledge of journalism and they do not take part in journalism training. He specified that there are around 14,000 registered, competent journalists.

Yosep reminded that the freedom of press is not taken advantage to produce hoaxes. What is needed is, he went on, improving journalists’ skills and mass media verification.

Press Council is committed to gradually implement the two measures.

Yosep also reminded mass media to maintain objectivity and neutrality in the event of political year. He considered 2018 General Election and 2019 Presidential Election as a test to assess neutrality of mass media.

ANTARA