Economi politic Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economi politic - Term Paper Example Media freedom is deemed as a critical aspect in the development of developing democracies in the wake of social awareness and reforms. Indonesia has received a fair share of mass media revolutions that dates back to its rich history of authoritarian rule to the current state. This paper seeks to explore the development of mass media since independence focusing on the factors that promote media freedoms to encourage democratic growth. For one to understand the extent of mass media freedom in the present day, it is important to examine the history of media broadcast since Indonesia gained its independence. The relationship between the government and the media in Indonesia can be described as axiomatic with the media being on the receiving end. The media in Indonesia has always been at the heart of major transitions in the political arena. After independence, the media became organs for various political parties and their agenda, which saw an increased political biasness among media ins titutions. As such, the media were illustrated as pawns controlled by the political parties since they picked sides. A journalistic agency was established to remedy the media involvement in the prevailing politics and instil professionalism among the stakeholders. Although the gesture was noble, nothing much was achieved and consequently, most newspapers were easily described as political mouthpieces in the 1950s.1 Notably, President Sukarno abandoned liberal democracy to adopt a guided system that sought to influence the media and direct their activities. In its regulations, the regime alienated the opposition and propagated its political manifesto through the media. The year 1965 saw the ascent of General Suharto to power with the seizure of the only legal radio and television station in Indonesia. His government enforced stricter regulations that monitored and controlled the press and their organisation through the department of information. The government demanded mandatory memb ership to the PWI thus crushing the remains of press freedom at the time. Newspaper editors and journalists would receive threats after publishing investigative articles against the government or the Suharto’s family. In addition, bribery was a common occurrence for individuals seeking favourable article publications to boost their image. The threats and corruption served to impede press freedom, integrity as well as the quality of information disseminated.2 Some journalists stood their ground and formed a new organisation, which sought a difference from their government-controlled counterparts. This followed the closure and revocation of licenses of major publications by the government after they published articles criticising the government. The new organisation had not political affiliations whatsoever and focussed on freedom of the press an aspect that did not go down well with the government. Consequently, members of the new organisation faced arrests, discriminations, a nd victimisation for their work. Protesters and demonstrators derived from various non-governmental organisations and the society demanded reforms after the publication of provoking articles. The collapse of the oppressive regime marked the introduction of reforms that have allowed significant strides in media freedom. Presently, press freedom in Indonesia is considered as the most vibrant