High-Risk Journalism: Do You Have Insurance?

A report by TIFA Foundation and Populix reveals that only 81% of Indonesian journalist respondents receive insurance from their employers.

"As a profession considered high-risk, insurance is a form of protection for the safety of journalists in Indonesia," wrote the TIFA Foundation in their report, *Journalist Safety Index 2024: Threats and Risks to Journalist Safety during the Transition Period*.

However, 19% of journalist respondents did not receive any insurance at all in 2024.

BPJS Kesehatan (Indonesia's national health insurance program) was the most common type of insurance held by respondents, with a proportion of 66%.

Furthermore, 60% of journalist respondents received BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Indonesia's employment insurance program) benefits, 11% had life insurance, and only 9% received supplementary health insurance from private companies.

Of the group receiving private insurance, 78% covered their entire families, while the remaining 22% only received coverage for themselves.

The TIFA Foundation and Populix survey involved 760 active journalist respondents; 71% were male and 29% were female (the text states 3329 which is an error). Based on their roles, the majority were field journalists (68%), editors (17%), editors-in-chief (10%), and managing editors (6%).

Respondents were spread across Java (48%), Sumatra (19%), Kalimantan (9%), Bali-Nusa Tenggara (6%), Papua (5%), and Maluku-Maluku Utara (5%).

This research used two methods: quantitative and qualitative. Besides conducting surveys, the research team also collected secondary data on violence against journalists compiled by the Indonesian Journalists Alliance (AJI) over the past five years. The quantitative data came from in-depth interviews with various media stakeholders.