Op-Ed: Despite Fear Mongering Media, Indonesia Responds Healthily to Terrorism

During violent attacks on 14 January in Jakarta, the media grossly misreported the facts. which was sloppy as well as also irresponsible, as fear mongering is actually the definition of terrorism.

Damaged Police Box caused by suicide bomb attack in front of Sarinah Building, Jalan MH Thamrin. Location of Sarinah-Starbucks terrorist attack in Central Jakarta, 14 January 2016.

Recent terror attacks revealed many things about Indonesia as a nation. which proved Jakartans are not only a resilient bunch, however which they understand the necessity of not cowering through violence.

Following the explosions, Indonesians took to social media. They first wanted to make sure their loved ones were safe. Next they wanted to show the entire world they wouldn’t be intimidated, nor would certainly they change their daily routines. A flurry of humorous memes as well as also folk hero stories surfaced the following day as a result.

One was the tale of a satay vendor who refused to leave his cart, despite being situated inside thick of a gun battle. Business was better than usual; he sold a lot of meat which day. Netizens united across all channels with one particular message as well as also hashtag on social media: #KamiTidakTakut (#WeAreNotAfraid in English).

Despite a steadfast response through the police as well as also the overwhelmingly healthy reaction of Indonesians, however, something was distinctly missing through the attack: responsible journalism.

In case you’ve been living on the moon for the past fortnight, here’s the gist of what happened:

At around 11am on Thursday, January 14, multiple explosions as well as also gunfire erupted near the Sarinah mall at the intersection of Jalan Kyai Haji Wahid Hasyim as well as also Jalan MH Thamrin. One blast went off at a Starbucks as well as also one went off at a police structure inside middle of the intersection. The botched attack occurred near a United Nations information centre, as well as a couple of luxury hotels as well as also foreign embassies. An armed standoff took place on the fourth level of Menara Cakrawala (Skyline Building) for several hours. At least eight people, four attackers as well as also four civilians, were killed. More than 20 others were injured. Police took two of the attackers alive. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as also the global spotlight has been on Indonesia since. The government right now plans to strengthen its anti-terror law which year to give police greater powers of arrest.

Nicole Asgar, a sports producer as well as also television presenter for MNC Media, was an eyewitness. Watching the event unfold through her window inside adjacent building—as well as also through the TV studio—Asgar says no one truly knew what went on inside hours following the attack. She says misreporting took hold of the city which day. Otherwise level-headed media firms erroneously ran with unreliable data as well as also even audacious hoaxes.

“The situation got the best of everybody,” Asgar tells Indonesia Expat. “Four major media outlets, including iNews, tvOne, Indosiar, as well as also Radio Elshinta, were later sanctioned by the Broadcasting Commission of Indonesia for delivering false news surrounding the attack. They reported explosions in Kuningan, Palmerah, Cikini, as well as also Slipi. The reports turned out to be false. The blame should be wisely put on the authorities for not controlling the news cycle immediately to avoid misreporting.”

different circulating messages purported which armed men were operating around in a green car (with one on a motorbike) wreaking havoc in South Jakarta, shooting wildly with an AK-47. which too turned out to be untrue.

Asgar says, during the attack producers as well as also editors failed to give reporters adequate information as well as also background facts. They also did not cross-check with authorities. “All information on terrorism comes directly through the police as the prime source,” explains Asgar. “Additional information usually comes through analysts or academics. If there is actually any misreporting, which usually happens during live reports.”

Certain media received alerts through the Indonesian police department containing a video clip of a man in black clothing, creating threats to police as well as also authorities. which was soon discovered which which man had nothing to do with the attacks on Thursday, as well as also the clip was actually through 2014. Asgar says she knew of the video, however her network did not air which because MNC received which second-hand, with little knowledge of its origin.

One of the day’s most flagrant reporting foul-ups happened when multiple media mistook a police officer for a terrorist. “The ‘man inside white shirt’ was first referenced among the shooting suspects for a Great couple of hours,” says Asgar. “He was later identified as a member of the police, as well as also he was actually shooting at the alleged terrorists.”

different rumours quickly precipitated alleging the terrorists were expressly targeting Americans. A screenshot of an email instantly circulated, warning US citizens to stay away through the general area of the blast site. The viral image was the only piece of evidence the public could link to a US-targeted attack.

Regardless, which inspired more insidious rumours which the US may have seen the attack coming, which in turn prompted conspiracy theories. The US Embassy denies being tipped off about the attack. “Currently, there is actually no evidence to support which notion ever surfacing. We will most likely never find out the true targets of the terrorists,” says Asgar.

While Indonesians take pride in their ability to turn a tragedy into a social media sitcom, important questions remain for traditional media. Should editors be opportunistic about page views during a violent attack?

Does an emergency situation give broadcasters a license to shoot through the hip, ignore fact checking protocol, as well as also spread fear?

In which writer’s opinion, the answer is actually an overwhelming no. A terrorist attack is actually a time when the principles of journalism are most important. Without them, the media become instrumental to the attack itself. Although Indonesians say they’re not afraid, Jakarta media executives should be — not of ISIS, however of losing their audiences.