45% of Indonesian Journalists Experienced Violence in 2023: From Intimidation to Death Threats

Research by TIFA Foundation and Populix shows that 45% of journalist respondents have experienced violence while working. This violence is more prevalent among female journalists.

Based on the type of violence, the most common experience among journalists was being prohibited from covering a story (46% of respondents, or 112 journalists). This was followed by being prohibited from publishing a story (41% of respondents).

Thirdly, 39% of journalist respondents experienced terror and intimidation. Fourthly, 31% of journalists were asked to delete their reporting.

Other forms of violence included death threats (24%), physical violence (21%), damage or theft of equipment (19%), and digital attacks (17%).

Oslan Purba, Executive Director of the TIFA Foundation, stated that the safety of Indonesian journalists is still not fully guaranteed. He believes that threats to journalist safety primarily come from the state and mass organizations (ormas).

Specifically, journalists assessed the potential safety threats as originating from mass organizations (29%); the state through the police (26%); government officials (22%); political actors (14%); and the media company itself (7%). The remaining 4% cited other actors.

The survey was conducted to measure the Journalist Safety Index conducted by TIFA, as part of the Safe Journalism Consortium, together with PPMN and HRWG, in collaboration with Populix and supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands. The safety index was recorded at 59.8 out of 100 points, falling into the "somewhat protected" category.

The survey targeted 536 active journalists. Of these respondents, 67% were male and 33% were female. By generation, the majority were millennials (aged 28-43 years) at 66%; Generation X and Boomers (aged 44-60 years) at 21%; and Generation Z (aged 17-22 years) at 16%.

Based on education level, the majority were bachelor's degree holders (S1) at 66%; academy graduates and equivalent at 21%; high school graduates (SMA) at 9%; and master's degree holders (S2) at 4%. Most respondents were full-time journalists (45%), followed by contract journalists (36%), and contributors (19%).

They were spread across Java (44%); Sumatra (19%); Kalimantan (9%); Sulawesi (9%); Maluku-North Maluku (8%); Bali-Nusa Tenggara (6%); and Papua (5%).

Data collection for the Journalist Safety Index survey was conducted from January 22 to February 13, 2024, using a self-filling method by the journalists.

Two data collection methods were used: quantitative and qualitative. In the quantitative data collection, the research team not only conducted surveys but also collected secondary data on violence against journalists previously compiled by the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews with several stakeholders in the journalism field.

(Also read: [There were 61 cases of violence against journalists in 2022, the perpetrators were mostly police officers])