I hope this forum could be a homeground for dialogue between journalists
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian journalists are to encourage and promote freedom of the press in the international world through a journalist forum called Medialog Indonesia.


"One of the missions of Medialog Indonesia is to encourage people of ASEAN and international to guarantee freedom of the press," Saiful Hadi, chief editor of ANTARA news agency , said here Wednesday.


Indonesia was one of the countries in ASEAN region in which freedom ofthe press was guaranteed by the law besides Philippines, he said at a gathering which was held in Gran Melia Hotel Jakarta, Wednesday.


Some other countries in ASEAN might not have freedom of press as it was in Indonesia, Saiful who was elected as the chairman of Medialog Indonesia said.


Journalists might not be able to enter some countries in ASEAN due to its policy that forbid freedom of press and they might be targets of murders in such countries, he said adding that one of the aim of Medialog Indonesia was to promote freedom of press in ASEAN and international region.


Medialog Indonesia also has a role as a bridge for dialogue between journalists around the world, Saiful Hadi said.


"I hope this forum could be a homeground for dialogue between journalists," he said.


According to him, Medialog would conduct numbers of activities for journalists such as, seminars, workshops, exchanges, and overseas trips as its programs.


M. Selim Caglayan, an Indonesian representative of Cihan News Agency said dialogue between journalists was necessary and Medialog would be a great bridge to accommodate such dialogue.


On the same occasion, Nasuhi Yurt, Ebru TV`s Vice President of Production said media was a powerful tool to solve issues.


Therefore, media has to be responsible and to bring people together as well as to bridge culture, he said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011