The Importance of Media Monitoring: Indonesian Experience

ByWisnu T Hanggoro

Brief Historical Background

1. Before the Fall of Soeharto’s Regime (before 1998) - MM was conducted at campuses as academic activities - LP3Y (established in 1977) - LPDS (established in 1988) advantaged MM for its trainings

2. After the Fall of Soeharto’s Regime - The misguided euphoria in responding to the press freedom:

press is used as business ignoring its quality and professionalism

- Experts & senior journalists’ Campaigns on the importance of MM

- The establishment of ISAI & LP3Y’s MM Network - MM becomes a movement: producing many articles & books - MM is increasingly well known in society

Methods

1. MM is basically a research on media requiring a powerful and valid methodology.

2. Methods of MM used by ISAI & LP3Y’s network: - Quantitative Method: Content Analysis - Qualitative Methods: Framing Analysis & Discourse Analysis - Other media survey methods combining quantitative and

qualitative methods - ISAI’s Pantau Magazine practiced a media survey through

in-depth interview and documentation research. The results of the research were written in a literature way.

Issues/Topics• In the beginning of MM activities (in 1999 – 2000), all

member of ISAI & LP3Y’s network focused on the 1999 GE by raising a question: how did the media in their areas cover the elections?

• In 2004 (when the network was expanded to become the Media Coalition) the MM worked on how the media across the country cover the preparation (campaign session) of the 2004 GE.

• MM was also addressed to particular issues being rampant in Indonesia such as corruption, environment, gender equality, ethnic conflict, etc.

Beneficiaries• Direct beneficiaries: public at large - NGOs - Academics - Students & Youth - Laymen

• Indirect beneficiaries: media workers Notes: - Media institutions/companies are ethically responsible for their own

monitoring through their ombudsmen - The presence of MM in society indirectly helps media workers to find

criticisms of their works. Although previously some of such media workers felt uncomfortable with the MM, but they increasingly welcome to the MM presence, particularly when some media institutions found difficulties for the attacks or threats from group of people.

Challenges• As a research activity, MM needs high cost and

continuous support. It is important for MM institution to actively fundraise and sustain the program

• In connection with its audience, it is important to formulate the results of MM into language that is simpler and easier to understand.

• Although MM is a research activity, it is not an academic purpose. Media analysts ought to be aware of their position to serve public at large and not limited to serve academics or other researchers.

Indonesian Media Monitoring Network

KIPPAS (Medan)

http://kippas.wordpress.com/

LSPPRadio MARAYayasan SET

VABLPDS

The Habibie CenterLKS LP3Y

Yogyakarta & ISAI Jakarta

LSPS (Surabaya)

eLSIM – (Makassar)

LeSPI (Semarang)

http://www.lespifoundation.org/

Other Media Advocates

Institute for the Studies on Press & Information (1999)Works for PF & FOE through media training, monitoring & literacy

http://www.lespifoundation.org/

Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information(ISAI: http://www.isai.or.id established in 1994, the most productive and

influential MM institution resulting hundreds books and articles)

LP3Y (Established in 1977): The Oldest Indonesian NGO on Media having significant role in introducing and

disseminating Media Monitoring in Indonesia

http://www.lp3y.org/

National Network for Media monitoring (established in 2007)

http://jnpm.blogspot.com/2008/09/ad-dan-art.html

Thank You

Wisnu T Hanggorowisnu@seapa.org; wisnuhanggoro@gmail.com

+66837032396