YOGYAKARTA - Department of Communication Studies in Graduate Program of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM held an International Seminar on Media and Politics. The event is intended to elaborate the dynamics in media and politics for several years in Indonesia, including the case of wire leak of Wikileaks under the title Yudhoyono Abuses Power, published by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, March 11, 2011. This shows the existence of media that more affects national and international politics.
The seminar took place on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the East Seminar Room Graduate Program of the Faculty. A number of speakers scheduled to attend are Prof. Kenichi Asano from Doshisa University, Kyoto, Japan, Professor of Communication Studies, UGM, Prof. Nunung Prajarto, Drs. I Gusti Ngurah Putra, MA, Kuskridho Ambardi, Ph.D., Dr. Phil. Hermin Indah Wahyuni, and Luke Ispandrarno, Ph.D. (Communication observer and Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Atmajaya University, Yogyakarta). Acting as moderator was Dr. Phil. Ana Nadhya Abrar and Nyarwi, S.I.P., M.Sc.
In a press release, Drs. I Gusti Ngurah Putra, MA, said the seminar will discuss the dynamics in media and politics in Indonesia for several years after reform era. Different influences and issues of global and national ideology of regulation and performance of the media in the political process in Indonesia will also be discussed. "The media is now in the middle of of political parties and political interests of capital owners and the problems of weak public in guarding the ideal role of the media as a watch dog in a democratic country," he said.
Ngurah mentioned the presence of Prof. Kenichi Asano from Doshisa University, Kyoto, Japan, in this seminar is very important because of his work as one of academicians and practitioners who is skilled to assess the media and politics in Indonesia. "Prof. Kenichi Asano who has been reviewing media and political dynamics in Indonesia for 20 years will provide comparative review of the dynamics of media and politics in democratic countries in Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Japan," he added.