The mass media can play an important role in providing accurate information to the public and policymakers. As part of its efforts to promote better use of evidence in public policy debates, the Knowledge Sector Initiative (KSI) participated in Tempo Media Week 2017 at the National Library, Central Jakarta, on November 24-27, 2017.
With the theme of “Hand in Hand for a Better Digital Society”, Tempo Media Week 2017 brought together several thousand participants from various backgrounds, including journalists, scholars, activists, university students, businesspeople and civil servants.
The event was opened by Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara and Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Indonesia, Bradley Armstrong.
A key topic discussed during the event was fake news and hoaxes. A KSI-sponsored workshop on the theme of “Media and the Cacophony of the Digital Age”, attended by 200 participants from various backgrounds, aimed to improve digital literacy among the public as a way of combatting fake news.
Fake news and hoaxes are a growing problem in Indonesia and globally. The spread of misinformation through social media and other channels can mislead the public and exacerbate social tensions.
Indonesia has one of the highest number of internet users in the world, with 132 million registered users.
Speakers at the event urged internet users in Indonesia to be informed and critical in filtering information obtained from digital sources.
The mass media can help counter fake news by providing accurate and impartial reporting. This will help build public trust in the media as a trusted source of information.
“Hoaxes and fake news are a global problem. The Australian Embassy, together with the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Press Council will continue to assist Indonesian journalists to identify these and prevent their circulation,” Armstrong said.
