Press Council Message for Jokowi Volunteers to Watch Over Najwa Shihab

SuaraJakarta.id – The Press Council considered that the Jokowi volunteers should first discuss with him before reporting the famous journalist Najwa Shihab to the police. Because Najwa Shibab works as a journalist.

This followed the controversy of Najwa Shihab when interviewing the vacant post of Minister of Health Terawan.

The Jokowi volunteers briefed Najwa Shihab regarding the monologue interview with an empty chair introducing himself as Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan.

Ahmad Jauhar, a member of the Press Council, explained that the Jokowi volunteers as reporters had a discussion with the Press Council before reporting to the police.

Furthermore, what he said was related to journalistic content.

“This is a matter of journalistic content, which must be resolved in the Press Council. If the Police are taken, it seems they are criminalizing it. There is Press Law Number 40 of 1999,” he explained on Tuesday (10/6 / 2020).

“Those who report it are not doing enough. Actually, satire against public figures is criminalized,” he said.

Ahmad Jauhar stated that Najwa Shihab’s action did not violate the journalistic code of ethics.

“The Press Council saw the phenomenon of Nana (Najwa) interviewing empty chairs, part of the creativity to attract the attention of the audience. Nothing more,” Jauhar said in his statement, on Tuesday (6/10/2020).

In his opinion, the Press Council related to what Najwa Sihab did did not violate the journalistic code of ethics (KEJ).

“I don’t think there is any KEJ article that Nana has violated,” Jauhar said.

Previously, the reporter claiming to be the Jokowi United Volunteer came to Polda Metro Jaya. Jokowi Unified Volunteers President Silvia Devi Soembarto said what Najwa did when interviewing the empty seats was to hurt the volunteers who supported Jokowi.

Najwa Sihab is also believed to have committed cyberbullying against Health Minister Terawan.
Because the source was not present they then interviewed and parodied her. Silvia considers parody an act that should not be done to the state office, especially the minister.

“In the Civil and Criminal Code, when we speak with journalists, we do use the press law but it is also reported in a civil and criminal way through the courts or the police. When we are both stuck, we go to the press council to ask for directions. “Silvia explained.