Media In A Destabilised World Discussed In Jakarta

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Jakarta skyline.

In Jakarta over 40 journalists from the Asia-Pacific region gathered to discuss how the media plays both a positive and negative role in how diverse cultures inter-relate especially where politics and religions intersect.

The forum was co-sponsored by the European Union, Norway, and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and heard from many with a history of inter-government and cultural relations, including: former Indonesia foreign minister Ali Alatas, Griffith University's Prof. Michael Wesley, general secretary of International Federation of Journalists Aidan White, Indonesia's former assistant minister/state secretary of foreign affairs Prof. Dewa Fortuna Anwar, and 'the father of the Indonesian media' journalist and author Goenawan Mohamad.

It explored how in a time of rapid globalisation and increasing contact – and conflict – between cultures, journalism often has to straddle the 'fault lines' that separate us as peoples. At times, the media, and journalists themselves, choose simplicity and conciseness over accuracy – particularly where time constraints and available space restrict one's challenge to report on conflict accurately.

Here in these two audio interviews (below) conducted by 95bFM's Kim Choe, and KiwiFM's Wallace Chapman, Selwyn Manning explains what the forum was all about and what solutions can be explored by journalists in the pursuit of accuracy and responsibility.

Also below is a photo-essay, a snap-shot of Jakarta as it appeared in November 2008.

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Jakarta's old Dutch sector.

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Jakarta's old Dutch sector.

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Jakarta's old Dutch sector.

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Jakarta's local police.

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Traffic, look out!

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Recycling plastic bottles.

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The famous Batavia Hotel where the world's famous once stayed. Think Somerset Maugham, think Alfred Hitchcock, they have all stayed here, supping a GnT.

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Selwyn Manning travelled to Jakarta as a guest of the co-sponsors of this forum.

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