"I am well aware of the fact that our media industry is currently under tremendous pressure as a result of massive and fast growth of social media platforms," the head of state noted at the commemorative event of National Press Day here on Tuesday.
Widodo attached importance to promoting convergence and facilitating a fair level playing field, adding that the media industry's aspirations were partly accommodated in the country's Job Creation Law No. 11 of 2020.
The president recently issued a government regulation on post, telecommunication, and broadcasting while echoing the government’s open approach to take into account any aspirations of media workers.
The governmental regulation encompasses aspects, such as the amendment to regulations in the telecommunication sector to determine tariffs for operating networks and/or telecommunication services as well as public broadcasting services.
President Jokowi further spoke of his intent to also urge related ministers to draft regulations that protect publishers to ensure that the economic benefits are reaped by both those running conventional media and over-the-top media services.
At the event, attended by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Press Council Chairman Mohammad Nuh, and several ministers, the head of state highlighted that the omnibus law that came into effect last year also regulated digitization of broadcasting.
The digitization of broadcasting should be optimized by the media industry, the president stated at the event, with attendees also comprising the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo and House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani.
"There has also been a ministerial regulation that manages the governance of private scope electronic system organizers," Jokowi stated at the event in which the representatives of organizations of journalists participated.
The regulation aims to strike a balance between digital economic development and data sovereignty in an endeavor to boost convergence of conventional media with digital platforms, according to the president.
"To this end, the government is open to the inputs of people from the media whose services to make the nation developed now and in the future are great," he emphasized.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic situation, President Jokowi appealed to the media people to join in collective efforts to build hope and voice optimism to the public.
"We are keen to handle the health and economic crises and to make huge leaps in development," he affirmed.
This year's commemoration of the anniversary of National Press Day was held amid the global pandemic situation.
Hence, the event themed "Arising from Pandemic. Jakarta is a Gate for Economic Recovery. Press functions as an Accelerator of Change" was not convened in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province, as scheduled.
In its place, the commemoration was centered in Jakarta through virtual and physical events.
EDITED BY INE
