JAYAPURA - Head of the Communication and Informatics Department of Papua, Jeri A. Yudianto assessed the role of mass media is very important in the delivery of valid information to the public in Papua.

Therefore, the Papua Provincial Government through the Communication and Informatics Department will continue to cooperate with the mass media, because it is a strategic partner that is equally strongly committed to preventing the rise of fake news (hoax) in the current digitalization era.

"The Papua Provincial Government will continue to cooperate with the mass media to convey information to the public. Because the media is a strategic partner of the local government."

"And we continue to cooperate with the media in conveying the right information, including in terms of accounting for hoax news that is widely spread in cyberspace. The point is the media is our most important partner in this regard," said Jeri, after a meeting between the Papua Provincial Government and print, electronic and online media crews at the Communication and Informatics Office, Wednesday (13/4/2022).

As a strategic partner of the local government, the media in Papua is asked to always prioritize the ethics of journalism in disseminating information.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Papua Communication and Informatics Department Jeri Agus Yudianto during a dialogue with reporters in Jayapura, Wednesday (13/4/2022).

Nevertheless, Jeri encouraged the mass media in Papua to carry out their journalistic duties, always stick to the code of ethics as stipulated by the Law.

"Therefore, being a reference and literacy is important for the abundance of information, especially in digital media," he said.

Jeri added, the Papua Communication and Information Service will also prepare a formula so that the publication or delivery of information about the development that has been carried out by the Provincial Government is currently more widely known to the public through mass media.

"Including the agenda of activities in the Papua Provincial Government, we will inform in such a way, so that it can be accepted by the public. Of course, we will emphasize the development program in the news in which the form will be prepared ," said Jeri.

The person in charge of Central SIWO PWI, Abdul Munib said that as a form of human rights, freedom of the press has been guaranteed in the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 40 of 1999.

Nevertheless, he said, the freedom in question is not absolute freedom, but freedom accompanied by social responsibility. Thus, the press has an obligation to also convey information correctly and validly and in accordance with facts.

"It means that every press activity must respect the human rights of everyone and must be accountable to the public. For this reason, a journalistic code of ethics for journalists is established and this code of ethics must be carried out by every press worker," said the senior journalist who is also the former Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Papua. ***