MEDIA NEEDS TO REFRAME COVERAGE OF WOMEN’S ISSUES
11 December 2024, Jakarta – The media industry, of late, has been facing sharp criticism for its failure to provide diverse and inclusive coverage of women’s issues, with experts pointing to urban bias, superficial reporting, and the exclusion of marginalised voices as key shortcomings.
In Indonesia, the feminist platform Konde.co has taken a leading role in highlighting these gaps. Its editor, Salsabila Putri Pertiwi, criticised mainstream media for prioritising urban narratives at the expense of rural and marginalised communities. “Unless it happens in Jakarta or another big city, the media tends to ignore it,” she said, underlining the disproportionate focus on urban-centric stories.
This urban bias often reduces women’s issues to lifestyle topics, ignoring systemic problems such as exploitative labour practices, environmental injustices, and the struggles of domestic workers. Vulnerable groups remain underrepresented, their stories either marginalised or omitted entirely from mainstream reporting.
* Digital Platforms Offer Alternatives, With Challenges
Digital platforms have emerged as a space to amplify marginalised voices, offering new avenues for advocacy. Platforms like Konde.co focus on critical issues such as domestic violence, workplace exploitation, and child custody disputes. “We want to make ordinary people and their stories important,” Salsabila said, emphasising the platform’s commitment to dismantling patriarchal norms.
However, these platforms face significant obstacles. Viral campaigns often dictate the narrative, sidelining nuanced and systemic issues. Activists are frequently targeted by online harassment, while abusers leverage social media to perpetuate violence and misinformation.
Despite these challenges, Konde.co is reshaping the media landscape in Indonesia. The platform’s upcoming documentary, Perempuan Kandidat (2024), will explore women’s political struggles, further cementing its role as a catalyst for social change.
* MPI Evaluating Similar Shortcomings in Reporting Women’s Issues
The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) is taking note of these efforts as it explores ways to address similar gaps in its media landscape. Experts in Malaysia have long called for structural reforms, expanded geographical coverage, and intersectional reporting to foster inclusivity and drive progress on sensitive issues such as gender inequality and domestic violence.
To emulate the success of platforms like Konde.co, Malaysia needs a dedicated, women-led media initiative to highlight critical issues, advocate for women’s rights, and clarify gender-related laws. Such a platform could not only amplify the voices of marginalised groups but also challenge entrenched biases in the traditional media and highlight the triumphs of women, be it big or small.
* Regional Media Collaboration
The conversation around media inclusivity extended to the recent IFJ Malaysia-Indonesia Media Mission in Jakarta (December 8–13, 2024), where media leaders from across Southeast Asia discussed strategies to strengthen regional solidarity, media regulation, and inclusivity.
The discussions highlighted the shared responsibility of regional media to promote diversity and equity, particularly in the context of rapid digital transformation.
* A Call for Media Transformation
As platforms like Konde.co continue to lead by example, Southeast Asia’s media industry faces mounting pressure to address its systemic flaws. Experts argue that adopting a more inclusive approach, prioritising intersectional reporting, and broadening geographical coverage are essential to achieving a more equitable media landscape.
For Malaysia, the urgency to act is clear. By creating a dedicated platform for women’s issues and reforming existing media practices, the country can ensure that the voices of all women — particularly those from rural and marginalised communities — can be heard and valued.
Reporting by Ainol Amriz, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Photo by: Sairien Nafis
