Indonesia Finance Minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa took it upon himself to scold the journalism industry for their lack of confrontational articles regarding the government and its political figures. Sadewa’s concern stemmed from the muted media scrutiny surrounding the latest disappointing government policies passed. At an event labeled “A Run for Good Journalism”, leaders, including Purbaya, urged journalists and news companies to continue fighting misinformation about current events and political policies whilst strengthening press freedom that supports democracy and educates society.
Sadewa urges journalists to be more critical of government policy, he argues that the media has shifted and has allowed political and government officials to avoid taking accountability and continue to harm poorer economic outcomes. In other words, when the press does not question authority, ineffective or harmful policies go unchallenged, ultimately hurting the public.
This issue directly relates to class concepts on the role of media in shaping political behavior and accountability. Freedom to post and share content that is truthful and educational acts as a check on government power by making wrongdoing visible and informing citizens. Media neglecting criticism surrounding politics furthers the notion that the media cannot be trusted, especially when it comes to politics. This is a major issue in Indonesia as they have experienced media disruptions such as loss of finances, spread of misinformation and competition between outlets. These feats have led to hardly any journalistic independence as they rely on the support of the government to financially succeed. This aligns with discussions in class that discuss how structural pressures on media limit their ability to act in the public interest. Too much governmental control on the media prohibits society from fair access to information regarding the wellbeing of their government and the truth behind certain policies.
The people most affected by this issue extend beyond journalists themselves. Ordinary Indonesians rely on accurate, critical reporting to understand and evaluate government policy. When journalists are discouraged, intimidated, or financially unstable, the public receives fewer investigative stories and more unchallenged political messaging. This allows those in power to shape narratives without scrutiny, something we have studied as a form of information asymmetry, were governments control access to truth.
Historically, Indonesia has experienced shifts in press freedom that may have had lasting impacts on the concept of journalism as a whole. The Suharto era was highly censored and surveyed majority of the articles published, while also limiting the content journalists were able to cover. Following this era, press freedom made a comeback after democratic reforms and journalists were able to resume writing the truth regarding the state of the country and news people need to be made aware of no matter the intensity. The current “muted” press is similar to articles published under the Suharto era and has civilians and interested parties fearing for a possible drift back to restricted media political communication. Sadewa’s call for action is important as he is a known figure and has the ability to reach the ears of thousands of people to warn them to be weary or concerned about the state of media and its health, he is also disregarding the poor practices exhibited by recent journalistic pieces. The fact that this warning comes from a government official reflects internal political tensions about public trust and legitimacy.
The articles accompanying image (referenced above) functions symbolically. The picture being taken at the beginning of the race shows the integrity and involvement that many people are taking in the comeback of “good” journalism. It shows a bright, outdoor event, with participants smiling and engaged. The use of lightness, athletic activity, and community imagery creates an impression of optimism and collective action. This visual softens the seriousness of the issue, making journalism appear not only essential, but also a shared public good worthy of celebration. It contrasts with the darker message in the text, that journalism is declining, and encourages viewers to feel hopeful rather than alarmed.
Overall, the article illustrates how media, politics, and public accountability are deeply intertwined. When journalism weakens, democracy weakens. The call to strengthen Indonesia’s press is ultimately a call to protect informed citizenship and transparent governance.
Source: Purbaya calls on journalists to step up scrutiny of government, The Jakarta Post 2025