The presumption of innocence: Interpretation and application in online journalism

Abstract

Implementation of the Presumption of Innocence by journalists has implications for the occurrence of trial by the press and potentially impacts social disharmony. This study aims to explain the interpretation of the presumption of innocence in journalism, and the understanding and application of the presumption of innocence by online media journalists. This research uses qualitative methods by utilizing two data collection techniques. Firstly, documentation that collects some related research about the Journalistic Codes of Ethics of the Press Council, PWI and AJI. Secondly, in-depth interviews with four online media journalists. The result shows that the literal interpretation of the presumption of innocence is a principle not to judge someone even though it is side by side with the principle of objectivity, covering both sides, mention of identity, and legal grammar. Online media journalists have a collective understanding of the presumption of innocence. However, the journalists have an authentic understanding that causes the different implementation of the presumption of innocence. Moreover, demands for faster news production, media agency policies, and personal interest from journalists also impact partial implementation. This research contributes by forming a model for applying the presumption of innocence for online media journalists to avoid trial by the press.

The Ethical Experience of Online Journalists in Avoiding Trial by the Press

“…First, in-depth interviews were conducted with five online media journalists (Informant 1; Informant 2; Informant 3; Informant 4; Informant 5) who had received press council certification, and five journalists were selected based on the criteria of having at least two years of experience and focused on legal-criminal reporting. Second, documentation by collecting institutional regulatory documents governing trials by the press, namely Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press, specifically in Article 5 paragraph (1) (Wahyudi et al, 2022). Ethically, trial by the press is prohibited in the Journalistic Code of Ethics of the Press Council (Article 7, 2008), PWI (Article 3, 2014), and AJI (Number 20, 2021), which is implicitly realized by the application of the Presumption of Innocence in journalistic activities (Wahyudi et al, 2022).…”

“…Second, documentation by collecting institutional regulatory documents governing trials by the press, namely Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press, specifically in Article 5 paragraph (1) (Wahyudi et al, 2022). Ethically, trial by the press is prohibited in the Journalistic Code of Ethics of the Press Council (Article 7, 2008), PWI (Article 3, 2014), and AJI (Number 20, 2021), which is implicitly realized by the application of the Presumption of Innocence in journalistic activities (Wahyudi et al, 2022).…”

“…The institutional regulations governing trials by the press in Indonesia are realized through the Presumption of Innocence as the primary principle and coupled with other principles such as objectivity, verification, covering both sides, and mention of identity as a secondary principle (Mukantardjo, 2010;Mustawa, 2019b;Sukardi, 2010;Wahyudi et al, 2022). Journalism principles in institutional regulations are complementary to each other or form a unified journalism principle that can be applied by journalists to avoid trial by the press (Wahyudi et al, 2022). Therefore, avoiding trial by the press requires journalists to understand the principles of journalism and apply them correctly when reporting and writing news.…”

“…Legally, trials by the press are prohibited in Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press, specifically in Article 5 paragraph (1) (Wahyudi et al, 2022). Ethically, trial by the press is prohibited in Article 3 of the Journalistic Code of Ethics from the Press Council, Article 7 of the Journalistic Code of Ethics from Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (2014), and Point 20 of the Journalistic Code of Ethics from Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (2021) which is implicitly realized by the application of the Presumption of Innocence in journalistic activities (Wahyudi et al, 2022). Thus, institutional regulations (laws and professional codes of ethics) have prohibited trials by the press in journalistic activities in Indonesia.…”

Citizen Journalism Berbasis Komunitas: Optimalisasi Tunasmalang.id sebagai Portal Berita Persyarikatan Muhammadiyah Kota Malang

“…Etika dan integritas dalam pengambilan gambar dapat menentukan dimensi moralitas seorang jurnalis, dan menghindari dampak buruk yang mungkin dihasilkan dari hasil gambar yang diberitakannya kerena pemberitaan yang memiliki dampak luas di masyarakat. Dijelaskan oleh Wahyudi et al, (2022) dan Coleman (2006) bahwa memikirkan orang-orang yang terpengaruh oleh situasi etis berita maupun gambar dapat membantu meningkatkan penalaran etis seorang jurnalis, dalam hal inilah prinsip etika konsekuenisme yang berperan besar dalam praktik foto jurnalistik, Pentingnya dimensi etika dalam foto jurnalis warga juga disampaikan oleh Maria Nilsson, karena foto hasil jurnalis warga merupakan pertaruan etis dan kredibilitas sebuah media (Nilsson, 2020).…”