Abstract

This paper attempts to examine media liberalization and especially its impact in the post-Suharto regime from the human security point of view. Furthermore, this paper seeks to explain the development of media liberalization in Indonesia and its impact on civil rights in regards to obtaining genuine information and the quest for true and reliable information. An increasing number of top businessmen owning media companies, following political and economic liberalization, have been one of the most important phenomena over the course of past few years. The acquisition of media companies by businessmen and politicians will indirectly influence the content of news reports. As the main element of democracy, media must be neutral. However, amid of capitalization of media, media bias has been commonly happening in Indonesia. Overall, the media has failed in their responsibility to keep a neutral position, and this is a violation of ethical journalism. This partisan media emerged especially in the post-Suharto administration due to the deep involvement of politician-media owners who are behind the news transmissions.