UNAIR NEWS – Information spread about the coronavirus in the media has made the public respond in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, some of the information distributed contains a hoax. Including in Indonesia, the flow of information became even more varied after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced that there were two Indonesian citizens contracted the virus.
In this regard, UNAIR Communication lecturer, Dr. Suko Widodo, M.Si., gave his opinion that information and news about the coronavirus is categorized of immediate public information. It was, he explained, in accordance with Article 10 of the Public Information Disclosure Act / KIP.
“Of course, it is the government’s obligation as a public body to provide transparent and easily accessible information related to the problem,” said the UNAIR Communication Expert.
The government, continued Suko, is also required to provide accurate, transparent and accessible information on the corona outbreak. According to him, a lot of information about the coronavirus is widely spread in the community.
“Unfortunately there isn’t much guiding information, especially an interactive communication space that allows citizens to consult with relevant authorities handling this issue, “he said.
The Head of Surabaya Public Relations Association (Perhumas) also stressed that the government must also provide information that can guide the community. Moreover, information to maintain health and reduce risk of being infected by this virus.
“In this context, in practice, the government can ask support from institutions such as mass media with credibility in reporting accurate information related to this issue,” he said.
For Suko, the effort was also to ward off fake information circulating about the spread of coronavirus in the community. Furthermore, he continued, real massive movements, massive campaigns and participation of all parties are needed to anticipate the corona outbreak.
“Indonesian people have good social capital. They have good potential to make massive movements anticipating the coronavirus, “he said.
In the end, Suko also said, creative and responsive steps are needed by all government agencies related to this problem, especially concerning providing information to the public. Accurate and enlightening information to the community, he added, would certainly come from sources who have the capacity, professionalism, competence, experience, credibility, and have authority related to the Coronavirus and public health.
“So it is not just anyone delivering information to the public regarding the Coronavirus. The goal is to avoid panic and noise in the community, “he explained. “In this context, credible mass media is the best channel to convey all information about the Coronavirus to the public,” he concluded.
Author: Nuri Hermawan
