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Aliansi Jurnalis Independen or AJI is an independent alliance of journalists, first set up in 1995 in Jakarta, in response to what many Indonesian journalists at the time felt was a growing, ‘uncomfortably close’ relationship between government and the media. Believing that the Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (Association of Indonesia’s Journalists), the large, mainstream media association, was encouraging less and less independent reporting, they established an alternative network that would not only promote media independence, but also tackle some of the more controversial issues that they felt more conservative journalists might avoid.
Today AJI has more than 1000 members all across the country, all between the ages of 25 and 40. The network has a youthful, dynamic vibe and has embraced new media such as the internet and alternative radio.
In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, AJI has about 60 young members, who meet regularly to share their experiences and plan activities for the network. According to Andi Fadli, who heads the group in Makassar, many of these activities focus on skills building and sharing knowledge on current affairs and other issues beneficial to their work.
He says that journalism has only in the last decade become a ‘proper’ profession – journalism was not a career young people used to choose because it was not considered a serious job. “Belonging to an organization like AJI helps young journalists because it reinforces the notion that journalists are professionals. Plus through sharing knowledge we gain different perspectives on things, which helps us in the way we report on issues.”
One subject the group was recently introduced to has prompted a change in perspective, especially in how they approach their stories. In December 2007, the group took part in a training workshop on CEDAW and women’s rights, which touched on how the media can often not be gender-sensitive in its treatment of issues, leading to negative portrayals of women that help perpetuate discriminatory attitudes.
Adi, a radio journalist, said that the workshop really opened his eyes. “After the training, I realized that my reporting was not gender-sensitive like I thought it was. For example, in the past if I was writing on violence against women, I would have just said something like ‘100 women were abused by their husbands’. Now though, I would also make a reference to CEDAW, and ask why this is happening to women and what is being done to protect them.”
Gunawan, a writer for an online portal, agrees. He feels that knowledge about women’s rights is generally very poor in South Sulawesi. The training has made him want to help raise more awareness about discrimination against women.
“There are many natural disasters in Indonesia, and I never made a difference between men and women in terms of the impact, such as the situation in shelters and camps. But disasters do affect men and women differently – women might have special needs, they might be pregnant for instance, and often women are also more vulnerable than men to exploitation in these types of situations.”
The journalists also learned about approaching interviews and interviewees in a gender-sensitive way. Says Eda, a radio talk show presenter, she used to prepare interview questions that reflected the gender stereotypes she held – “if I was interviewing a local business woman for example, I would ask her more questions about her family than her business, and even be critical of her for neglecting her family to pursue her career. As a talk show host, I now realize that I could be putting my guest in a difficult position to answer the questions on air, and underestimating her skills just because she is a woman.”
“Many reporters, including myself, when we write about victims of abuse, we sometimes use their names or show their faces on TV. I realize now that this could actually harm the victim and her family further,” said Rahma who works for a large news agency. “I try to focus now on how to make the issue, not the victim, more prominent.”
AJI Makassar has joined hands with the Forum Pemerhati Masalah Perempuan (FPMP), a grassroots women’s NGO network in South Sulawesi, so they can learn more about women’s rights, and be kept informed about the situation of women in the province. They have already organized a follow-up workshop for their network, this time on the interconnectedness of CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Millennium Development Goals.
As journalists they know they can play an important role in fostering a better understanding of equality between men and women, and in challenging negative stereotypes and mindsets that impinge on women’s rights.
Hajjah, who writes for a large daily newspaper, wants to use South Sulawesi’s history as a reference point for gender equality. She says that gender equality actually existed for a long time in the province before Indonesia became a republic, because they had a powerful queen who ensured that men and women played equal roles in society. She also balks at criticism that suggests Islamic values run counter to women’s human rights: “My father raised us with strict Islamic values, and this never contradicted sharing of household responsibilities. He would wash clothes and do the cooking just like my mother. I think that saying Islam is against gender equality is not only wrong, but harmful, and as reporters we can help change this attitude.”
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Young Journalists as Anti-discrimination Advocates
