Reflecting on ‘The Jakarta Post: Four Decades of Storytelling’

Summary

In this transcript, the speaker reflects on the evolving role of media in society, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust in journalism. They discuss the decline of democratic experiences over the past decade, particularly over the last five years, and their strong opposition to extending presidential terms or allowing political dynasties. The speaker also highlights the growing reliance on traditional media for credible information, as social media has failed to uphold its role as a truth gatekeeper. Despite facing challenges, they express pride in having a loyal community that remains engaged and values the role of the media in preserving democracy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker was surprised by the large turnout at the event, indicating strong interest in their work and its impact on the news community.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the importance of their work in The News Room, highlighting the trust built over 40 years of service.
• 😀 A key theme discussed is the decline of democracy in the past decade, with the past five years showing a particularly rapid downturn.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes their strong opposition to proposals extending presidential terms and the idea of political candidates from influential families.
• 😀 There is a consistent thread in their stories, which is the preservation of democratic values and experiences in the country.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges that traditional media now plays a crucial role in ensuring the truth, as social media has failed to act as an effective gatekeeper.
• 😀 The importance of being a reliable source of credible information is stressed, with the speaker advocating for traditional media's responsibility in providing the truth.
• 😀 The community of loyal followers of their media outlet is smaller but still dependable, with a core audience that continues to trust their work.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the changing dynamics of media, stressing the need for their platform to broaden its role beyond just politics and economy to include art, international relations, and cultural issues.
• 😀 Despite not having the numbers they once did, the speaker is proud of their loyal audience, who remain committed and reward their efforts with trust and engagement.

Q & A

What was the speaker’s initial reaction to the event?

The speaker was surprised by the event, particularly by the number of people attending and their interest in the topic.

What does the speaker believe is the significance of the event?

The speaker believes the event is significant because it indicates that the work being done in The News Room matters, as shown by the large turnout and engagement.

How long has the speaker been in their role, and what does this suggest about the importance of their work?

The speaker mentions that they have been in the role for 40 years, suggesting that their work has had a long-lasting impact and continues to be relevant.

What are the key threats the speaker sees to their country’s democracy?

The speaker identifies the decline of democracy over the past decade, with particular concern over proposals to extend presidential terms and the potential for family members to become political candidates.

What is the speaker’s stance on the extension of presidential terms and political dynasties?

The speaker strongly opposes the idea of extending presidential terms and the idea of having family members become political candidates, seeing both as threats to democracy.

How does the speaker view their role in the media landscape?

The speaker believes their role, particularly with The Sunday Post, is to not only focus on politics and the economy but also expand to other important areas like art, international affairs, and societal issues.

What does the speaker think about the role of social media in shaping public perception?

The speaker believes that social media has failed in its role as a gatekeeper of truth and that people will likely turn back to traditional media outlets for credible and reliable information.

What role does the speaker believe traditional media should play?

The speaker believes that traditional media should act as a gatekeeper, helping to distinguish between truth and falsehoods, and providing reliable information to the public.

How does the speaker feel about their audience’s loyalty?

The speaker acknowledges that while their audience numbers may not be as large as before, they are proud of the core group of loyal followers that they can depend on.

What does the speaker consider rewarding in their work?

The speaker finds it rewarding to have a loyal community that trusts and relies on their work, despite the challenges faced in the media landscape.