Indonesian People – Imogen PR. Different research named “World’s Most Literate Nation Ranked” which had been done by Central Connecticut State University on last March 2016, Indonesia was ranked 60th out of 61 countries about reading interest, just below Thailand (59) and above Bostwana (61). In fact, the Indonesia’s infrastructure which support reading activity ranking is above of European countries. The second fact, 60 million Indonesian People have gadgets, or the fifth largest in the world of gadget ownership.
Indonesian People Reading Habit
No wonder in terms of fussiness on social media, Indonesians ranks 5th in the world. Champion Jakarta is the most fastidious city in cyberspace because all day long, the tweet activity of a Twitter account in the capital city of Indonesia is most densely over Tokyo and New York.
This report is based on the research results of Semiocast, an independent institution in Paris. Jakarta residents recorded the most fussy about pouring their feeling on Twitter more than 10 million tweets every day. In second world ranking of the most active cities on Twitter is Tokyo. Following under Sakura country, people in London, New York and Sao Paulo also share stories. Bandung also ranked of the most active cities on Twitter in sixth position.
Thus, Indonesian People has a record of two cities in the research list. So no wonder, those who have minimal knowledge, are lazy to read books, but love to stare at the gadget screen for hours and the most fussy on social media. Don’t be surprised if Indonesia is a ‘soft’ consumer for provocation, hoaxes and slander.
Once they get information on the gadget screen, they immediately like and share. Though the information is not necessarily true, provocation and divisive NKRI. WE ARE IN THE POST-TRUTH ERA. Through gadgets there is indeed a lot of factual information. Unfortunately the information they get is also not from reliable media, but from social media which is more filled with opinions, not facts. On the contrary, Indonesian People even believe in fake news portals and hoax spreader accounts. Reuters Institute said, the biggest gap now is the public trust in the media fake news versus a valid media
That was the fact., measrued by Alexa.com, some media fake news can defeat mainstream media like Antaranews and Tempo.co. Why was it so? Welcome to the Post-Thruth Era, guys. Post-truth definition is ‘relates to or refers to circumstances where objective facts are less influential in the formation of public opinion than personal emotions and beliefs. In the Post-Truth era, people no longer look for truth and facts but rather affirmations and confirmations and support for their beliefs. So even though many opinion sites are biased, attacking and tendentious in one group, they can capture the hearts and feelings of readers with the story-telling they made.
The truth is not important anymore, more over the credibility from media’s name. Indonesian People who lazy in reading and fussy were not willing to look for the truth. When the mainstream media actually opposes the facts with the opinion media, the public instead turns to distrust of the big-name media. So it is not only social media that contains hoaxes but also fake news media that spread polarized opinion. #KROSCEK COLABORATION PROJECT. Then how do PR practitioners deal with this phenomenon?
The effective way is to build media literacy and bridge the polarization. The Ministry of Communication and Information must be firm to label the site/article as a hoax with clear criteria and procedures. In addition, we must also counter credible narratives of hoaxes/misleading opinions. The paradigm that people who criticize the government as haters must also be changed. Engagement in social media must be more protective rather than beat each other. @_TNIAU can become a role model of a pattern of government communication that protects on social media. Finally, the community needs an independent entity to conduct a crosscheck to look for reports or ask questions about possible hoax information.
For the last part, when the last Jambore PR Indonesia (Jampiro) 3 in Yogyakarta, I tried to elaborate that idea. In Jampiro openning session, after listened to Arif Zulkifli speech, Tempo chief editor about the process of credible editorial in media mainstream versus makin fake news or hoax.
Mr. Ahmad Heryawan as known as Mr. Aher West Java governor about Tabayun Jurnalism and Ms. Niken Widiastuti as General Director IKP The Ministry of Communication and Information about how the government has tried so hard to turn off the portals and hoax accounts, I who was the last speaker tried to summarize these great speakers with an initiation of the #KROSCEK project. #KROSCEK is a collaborative project between PR Indonesia and Indonesian Journalists supported by the RI Ministry of Communication and Information.
Adopting the concept of Tabayun journalism, Pak Aher, #KROSCEK also has a number of Tabayyun pillars namely ‘shidiq’, advocates and truth enforcers. This means that #KROSCEK must take sides and defend the truth. Then Amanah, the meaning can be trusted. We must inform the news or actual events.
Certainly do not miss the Fathonah, which means intelligent and broad-minded. Through #KROSCEK, the public can send reports or questions about possible hoaxes from news and social media sites. Then in this portal there are scientific studies from the academic world, public relations practitioners and community organizations to maintain independence and trust.
Journalists from national and local media can join as volunteers to conduct a crosscheck by sharing resources, experience, and speakers. The results of the information report that has been confirmed in #KROSCEK by its stakeholders can eventually be used by journalists as a credible news source in their respective media. So that journalist friends no longer use the Lambe Turah as Indonesian People news source.
By: Suharjo Nugroho (Jojo) Chairperson of PR PR Indonesia Association (APPRI) Managing Director IMOGEN PR Indonesian Partner of PR International Organizations (PROI) * This article was also published in the September 2017 edition of PR Indonesia magazine. Please help to like and share for #KROSCEK squad so that can be realized soon.
