ANTARA MUST PLAY A MEDIATORY ROLE IN DISSEMINATION OF NEWS BY MASS MEDIA

JAKARTA, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Antara News Agency, the official news agency of
Indonesia, has been asked to play a mediator role in the broadcast of news by
other media that seem to highlight more negative news compared with positive or
responsible reporting.

"It is hoped that Antara will continue to be relevant and contribute towards
the development of the people by delivering real-time news and providing
information.

"Antara can build a sharper, wider and more effective network with foreign
news agencies together with two other government news agencies, namely RRI
(Radio Republik Indonesia) and TVRI (Televisyen Republik Indonesia)," said
Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abu Bakar during Antara's 73rd
anniversary at Wisma Antara, here Monday.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Tifatul
Sembiring, who was also present hoped Antara would be able to deliver credible
information in the face of huge challenges for the development and future of
Indonesia.

"Antara has a public service obligation in disseminating information on the
policies of the government in serving the public interest. As the leading
supplier of news, Antara is responsible for providing and broadcasting news that
are relevant and rationale to the country's development.


"Being the country's main news agency, it should not deviate from its
objective in the dissemination of information on governmental policies," he
said.

ANTARA News Agency was established by freedom fighters and nationalists
including Adam Malik, Raden Mas Soemanang, Pandu Kartawiguna and Albert Manumpak
Sipahutar on 13 December 1937, but was given a new legal entity by the
government in December 2007 as a state-owned corporation.

The event was attended by the National News Agency of Malaysia's (Bernama)
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zulkefli Salleh, Editorial Training Editor Mohamad Nasir
Yusoff and Senior Marketing Manager Maznah Khalil.