13/05/2026
Indonesia's press is legally free — but is it truly free? In a powerful new op-ed published on RNW Media, two Indonesian journalists and RNTC Sander Thoenes Scholars, Retyan Sekar and Juan Robin, unpack the paradox at the heart of Indonesian journalism today.
From mass layoffs (1,200+ journalists in 2025 alone) to self-censorship, structural economic pressures are quietly reshaping what Indonesian media can — and cannot — say. Indonesia's ranking in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index dropped from 111th to 127th in just one year. Yet beyond the rankings, 80% of journalists admit to self-censoring to avoid conflict.
Retyan and Juan don't just diagnose the problem — they explore paths forward, from grassroots independent media to reimagining trust-based journalism models like De Correspondent in the Netherlands.
This is a must-read for anyone working in media, press freedom advocacy, or development communication.
Read the full article: https://ow.ly/m2Tw50YYL73