NU and media organizations sign joint statement on infotainment

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and the Union of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) issued Tuesday a joint statement respecting infotainment journalistic affairs.

One of its points was the importance of infotainment programs to abide by the rules of the game or what so-called as code of journalistic ethics, including not to present gossip (ghibah) news.<>

The joint statement was signed by chairman of PBNU KH Said Aqil Siradj, chairman of PWI Ilham Bintang, Wina Armada of the Press Council and Yasirwan Uyun of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).

Through the joint statement, NU along with the media organizations expect to end any emerging polemics in terms of infotainment programs following lawsuits filed by infotainment men against a beautiful actress Luna Maya and reasserting the stance of NU that infotainment presenting gossip  is haram (forbidden under the Islamic law).

The statement also said that infotainment was part of journalistic works so that it should also respect cultural, moral and religious values having so far been preserved in society.

General chairman of PWI Margiono said that he felt obliged to increase professionalism and competence of journalists and call on the press men to fully respect the code of journalistic ethics.

"There is no rejecting the fact that what conducted by infotainment by collecting, arranging and writing or conveying news articles are considerably works of journalists," he said, adding that the journalists, as a consequence, should have "skill and code of ethics."

He was of the opinion that journalists should also consider any information that will be reported, whether or not the information presents public or personal affairs.

While, KH Said Aqil Siradj, popularly known as Kang Said, reiterated that the stance of NU in regard with the prohibition of infotainment programs that present gossip news was decided in its ulema meeting in Surabaya on 27-30 July, 2006. (nam)