TRANSFORMATION OF INDONESIAN PRESS FREEDOM: FROM COLONIAL ERA TO DIGITAL

 

By: Eva Riana Rusdi

Doctoral Candidate in History, University of Indonesia

Every newspaper published, every broadcast news, carries the traces of the long struggle for press freedom in Indonesia. From the dark colonial period to the bright digital era, the journey of the Indonesian press reflects the metamorphosis of a nation in achieving and maintaining the independence of information. A journey marked by tears, blood, and courage - from censorship to freedom, from strict control to an explosion of information. This is the story of how the voice of truth continues to resonate, despite various forces attempting to silence it. The Indonesian press has undergone significant transformation in its efforts to become a solid pillar of democracy.

Rise of Indigenous Press: Resistance Through Words (1903-1945)

The history of the Indonesian press began with the publication of "Bataviase Nouvelles" in 1744, the first newspaper published by the VOC. However, the early 20th century marked a turning point in the history of Indonesian press with the birth of the first indigenous press. Medan Prijaji, founded by Tirto Adhi Soerjo in 1907, emerged as a beacon illuminating the darkness of colonial information. Soerjo, who later became known as the Father of National Press, not only established a newspaper but also instilled the spirit of resistance through his writings.

Previously, Boedi Oetomo had published Darmo Kondo (1903), which became the pioneer of press in Javanese and Malay. The emergence of this indigenous newspaper shifted the dominance of the Dutch press, which had previously controlled the information landscape in the Dutch East Indies. Indigenous journalists began to bravely voice criticism against colonial policies, even though they had to confront strict colonial press regulations through Haatzaai Artikelen.

Entering the period of national movement, indigenous press increasingly bravely took on the role of a voice for the struggle for independence. Newspapers such as Sinar Hindia, Asia Raja, and Bintang Timur actively disseminated ideas of nationalism and freedom. Movement leaders like Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta also actively wrote in various newspapers, turning the press into a medium for political education and national consciousness.

Press Under Two Regimes: From Politicization to Censorship (1945-1998)

The early independence period brought an unprecedented euphoria of press freedom. Soekarno initially provided ample space for the press to develop as an instrument of revolution and nation-building. Partisan newspapers emerged, representing various political ideologies from nationalists, religious, to communists. Harian Rakjat became the mouthpiece for the PKI, Pedoman raised the voice of the PSI, while Abadi represented Masyumi.

However, entering the Guided Democracy era (1959-1965), press freedom began to face restrictions. Soekarno implemented the concept of guided press that required mass media to be aligned with the Nasakom ideology. The banning of newspapers deemed "counter-revolutionary" such as Indonesia Raya and Pedoman marked the end of a brief era of press freedom.

The Suharto regime ushered in a new era of more systematic press repression. The implementation of SIUPP (Press Publishing Business License) became an effective control instrument. Mass media had to undergo the procedure of "telephone culture" - informal censorship through calls from government officials dictating what could and could not be reported.

The peak of repression against the press occurred on June 21, 1994, when the government banned three leading media: Tempo, Editor, and Detik. This event, later known as "Journalistic Malari," triggered a wave of protests from journalists and activists, leading to the birth of the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) as a counter organization to the PWI, which had been co-opted by the government.

Euphoria of Press Freedom in the Reform Era to Challenges of the Digital Era

The downfall of the New Order regime brought a fresh breeze for the Indonesian press. The revocation of SIUPP and the enactment of Law No. 40 of 1999 concerning the Press marked a new historical milestone in press freedom. New media emerged with various perspectives and reporting styles. Investigative journalism, which was previously taboo, has now become a popular genre that uncovers various scandals and corruptions.

An independent Press Council was formed, replacing a similar institution that was previously under government control. Journalist organizations like AJI and IJTI grew rapidly, strengthening the professionalism of Indonesian journalists. This era is also characterized by the emergence of the first 24-hour news television, Metro TV (2000), followed by TV One, enriching the landscape of Indonesian journalism.

Entering the digital era, the Indonesian press experienced fundamental transformation. Detik. com, which was born during the reform period, became a pioneer of online journalism, followed by Kompas. com and various other digital news portals. Social media and digital platforms changed public news consumption patterns, forcing conventional media to adapt to multimedia convergence.

However, the digital era that brought an explosion of information also posed significant challenges. The media economy was shaken by declining print advertising and competition with global digital platforms. Quality journalism competes with click-bait and viral news. Hoaxes and misinformation have become a serious threat to the credibility of information, prompting the rise of fact-checking journalism.

The Future of Indonesian Press

Amid digital disruption, the Indonesian press continues to evolve. Mainstream media are developing new business models such as paywalls and memberships. Podcasts and short videos have become popular formats for delivering news. Data journalism and visual storytelling are rapidly developing, providing a new dimension in information presentation.

Future challenges are not only about technological adaptation but also about maintaining independence and credibility amid economic and political pressures. Media literacy is key to building a healthy information ecosystem. The press freedom that has been fought for must be balanced with professionalism and social responsibility to educate the nation's life.

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