Eric Loo BEST PRACTICES OF JOURNALISM IN ASIA JOURNALISM Best Practices of Journalism in Asia Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Singapore Media Programme Asia Best Practices of Journalism in Asia by Eric Loo Copyright © 2009 by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Singapore Author Dr Eric Loo Co-author Werner vom Busch Publisher Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung 34 Bukit Pasoh Road Singapore 089848 Tel: +65-6227 2001 Fax: +65-6227-8342 Email: [email protected] www.kas.de/mediaasia All rights reserved Manuscript offers, review copies, exchange journals, and requests for subscription are to be sent to the publisher. The responsibility for facts and opinions in this publication rests exclusively with the authors and their interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the policy of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Layout and Design Hotfusion 7 Kallang Place #04-02 Singapore 339153 www.hotfusion.com.sg CONTENTS FOREWORD __________________________________________________ VII PROLOGUE ___________________________________________________ IX CHAPTER 1: • Development Journalism: Forging a path for best practices? _____________ 1 CHAPTER 2: • Journalism for the people – Dialogue with journalists from Asia _________ 23 Reporting for the poor and disenfranchised - Red Batario: Care for people and for what people can do ____________ 29 - Palagummi Sainath: Journalism is for people, not shareholders _______ 36 - BG erghese: Reclaim public service values of journalism ____________ 48 - Dionne Bunsha: Good journalism strives for social justice ____________ 53 - M. Suchitra: Redefining journalists’ professional roles _______________ 69 Exposing the corrupt ________________________________________ 80 - Glenda Gloria: Lace scepticism with optimism about the good in people _ 81 - Yvonne Chua: Coping with hazards of investigative journalism ________ 97 - Massoud Ansari: Good journalism exposes and educates ____________ 104 Reporting the frontline - Shahanaaz Habib: Keeping emotions intact in war reporting _________ 116 - Michelle Tan: Telling the soldier’s stories ________________________ 122 CHAPTER 3: • Online qualitative survey of ‘Best Practices in Journalism’ _____________ 129 • The Jakarta Post: Forging public service values _____________________ 147 I CHAPTER 4: • Grasping the realities of best practices of journalism in Asia ___________ 153 • Development journalism in Asia: Beware of cynicism, kindle hope ______ 155 CHAPTER 5: • Journalism is only as good as readers expect it to be ________________ 163 APPENDIX • Appendix to Chapter 3 ________________________________________ 168 • Bio of Eric Loo _______________________________________________ 172 II FOREWORD Asia is arguably one of the most diverse regions in the world. Whether it is measured in terms of differing political systems, different levels of economic development or the vast array of social, cultural and religious traditions, no other region matches the diversity of Asia. This complexity poses a particular challenge for Asian journalism in its quest to identify a commonly shared understanding of what constitutes best practice. Indeed, not only do Asian journalists have to do justice to a range of economic and political realities, they are also working within an environment that is undergoing rapid transformation. Dr Eric Loo’s book could not have come at a better time. It is my great pleasure to introduce this groundbreaking work, which develops a distinctly Asian perspective to the ongoing discourse on Asian journalism. In dialogue with award-winning journalists from the region, Dr Loo skillfully uncovers the multiple facets of the Asian media reality. Drawing on the vast experiences of some of the most established journalists in Asia, this book portrays a comprehensive picture of best (and bad) practices, in the Asian context. Dr Loo’s book marks a significant contribution to the efforts of the Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung’s Media Programme Asia, in fostering dialogue between journalists and media teachers in Asia and Europe. By adding an Asian perspective to the debate on best practice in journalism, this book empowers Asian journalists to develop a model that pays tribute to the specific realities and cultural contexts within which they work and further advances a free and ethical press in Asia. I am confident that this book will greatly advance the discourse on best practice in Asia and Europe alike and enable journalists to learn from and with each other. Werner vom Busch Former Director & Co-author Media Programme Asia Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Singapore IX PrologUE In Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, journalism instructional texts – mainly published in the United States – have traditionally been translated into local languages by media academics. Many of these academics were educated in the United States, and less so, the United Kingdom and Australia. Direct translation of the texts and deference to media models from English speaking democracies as the benchmarks of professional journalism practices, have overlooked the eclectic, enterprising work of journalists in Asia.1 Journalists perform their work despite a range of constraints, from lack of access to the internet, computers and telephones, to more systemic problems like low wages, inadequate journalism training, low literacy and repressive media laws. Instructional and academic journalism texts originating from Asia in recent years have attempted systematically to examine the practices, cultures and functions of journalists in Asian media environments, which are as diverse as the region’s economy, communal politics and multi-ethnic communities.2 This book attempts to add to the current literature on journalism in Asia. Readers are introduced to the different journeys taken by Asian journalists. Through their award-winning work they have, in unique ways, influenced and educated public understanding of human development concerns, and inspired their respective communities to act on issues that affect their daily life. 1 Explanation of the terms used in this book: “Asia” refers specifically to Southeast Asia on the working assumption that the pluralistic ASEAN region is representative of the spread of newspapers in Asia proper – stretching from India to Hong Kong. The geography spans across the least developed countries – such as Myanmar and Laos - to the ‘newly industrialised countries’ such as India, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. “Western” refers particularly to the United States where major trans-national media institutions are located. Reuters and AFP, although based in Europe, are structurally and institutionally similar to AP and UPI, sharing the same model of Western media operations. 2 See for example Asia Media Report: A Crisis Within, Inter Press Service Asia-Pacific Centre Foundation, Thailand, 2006. Other media-related publications are mainly published by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), Singapore (www.amic.org.sg); and professional journalist organisations in the region, which sites its publications online - such as the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (http://www.seapabkk. org/), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (www.pcij.org), and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (www.cmfr.com.ph/); Aliran (www.aliran.com) in Malaysia; and The Media Foundation’s watchdog site, The Hoot (www.thehoot.org) in India. X One media project illustrative of this change-oriented journalism was a community experiment - Our Village Chhatera - initiated by The Hindustan Times in Delhi in 1968. The experimental project involved a fortnightly column that ran over several years. It told the stories of villagers in Chhatera, and their resilience in addressing their need for better infrastructure, head-on. The column tracked the community’s potential for micro-development and how the villagers achieved their development goals when given appropriate resources. B.G. erghese, editor of The Hindustan Times at that time, and initiator of the project recalls: “Many, from the proprietor (initially) to staff and readers, first yawned, then complained at the waste of space on Our Village Chhatera. But it developed a faithful readership. Publicity galvanised the administration and service agencies into doing their job - and doing it better. The villagers felt greatly empowered. Scholars eagerly measured social change over the seven year period the column ran. Ambassadors got to see an India on the other side of diplomatic protocol. And city journalists, who could not tell rice from wheat or initially gaped at Persian wheels, grew to become far better and more sensitive journalists, able to take a more holistic view of Indian realities. Chhatera was an education.” (Full interview in Chapter 2). For the young journalists at The Hindustan Times, erghese says, the experience gave them a critical understanding of the social functions inherent in their chosen profession. The journalist’s role then was to not only inform, entertain, report or analyse the events, but also to motivate the villagers to make a positive change to their living conditions. To the villagers of Chhatera, The Hindustan Times was effectively the purveyor and catalyst for leading the village out of its dismal conditions to becoming a model of micro-development emulated by other communities. Verghese’s fortnightly column provided villagers with the recognition and moral support they needed. For the government officials,The Hindustan Times provided a critical feedback loop where people could voice their concerns as well as suggest alternative