Joko Widodo: Welcome to the Home of the Most Free and Energetic Journalism in the World

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian President Joko Widodo assessed that after the reformation era, Indonesian press had become more free and energetic compared to that of other countries.

"Welcome to Indonesia, home of the most free and most energetic journalism in the world," he said at the opening ceremony of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2017 at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Wednesday (5/3).

According to the President, the freedom of the press in Indonesia has actually brought a positive impact for the interest of the Indonesian nation and people. The government needs criticism from the media to perform a better administration.

"Constructive criticism from media has contributed to Indonesia’s good governance,” he said, adding the freedom of press in Indonesian has contributed to the more of dynamic democratic system in the country.

Joko Widodo admitted that the existence of media will help to ease future challenges faced by the nation. People are expected to be more aware of the benefits of the governments’ program by the dissemination of information performed by media.

"We cannot do this without the press," he said.

The highlight of the WPFD 2017 event was marked by  awarding Guillermo Cano Prize to the winner. This year’s Guillermo Cano winner is Dawit Isaak, an Eritrean born journalist who became a Swedish national.

Since 1997, UNESCO has been annually awarding the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize to journalists or media organizations in the world that maintains or promotes press freedom even in the face of intimidation, threats, or when their lives are at stake.

This prestigious press award was named after Guillerma Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was murdered by drug mafia on 17 December 1986 in Bogota. He was killed by a barrage of bullets in front of his workplace the El Espectador. (Translator: Rina Alexandra)