Diani Citra: Fulbright Grantee, NYU

Diani Citra

During a presentation in her class at NYU

"Rise from the ruins," is the best way to describe the life of Diani Citra, a young journalist and Fulbright Scholar who is currently fighting her way to obtain a degree in Journalism from New York University (NYU) in New York City. She is enrolled at NYU’s Media, Culture and Communication program, a major that she had always dreamt about. There were days when she had thought of pursuing her studies in the U.S. however, she thought that it was beyond her reach. She struggled through her academic years and especially after her mother’s death in a car accident, which also left Diani with 5 pins in her body, she didn't think her dream was a possibility at all. Soon after, her beloved father also died of cancer. The tragedy couldn’t have come at a worse time. The tragedy left her to struggle on her own. However, her determination and spirit have brought her far, and she is on her way to realizing her dream. The most noteworthy part of her struggle is her achievements throughout her journalism career at such a young age.

Diani was part of the research team and writer of Indonesia’s Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Broadcast Program Standard 2009. Her talent soon earned her a position as member of the Indonesia’s Women Empowerment Ministry drafting team and involved her in several discussions and brainstorming sessions for drafting the Pornography Law. Diani has voiced her opinions on religious freedom issues in the country. She was also recruited to become part of the judicial review team to the Constitutional Court for the Blasphemy Act. The petition was filed by the late, former President Abdurrahman Wahid. She has vowed to fight for her causes through her love and passion, which is journalism, and she believes that it can all be achieved through sincere and honest journalism.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

I come from a Batak Family of four. But since I was barely 17, that number was tragically reduced to 2, me and my sister. My mother died when I was 15 in a car accident that our entire family was in. The accident left me with 5 pins in my body and a broken hearted father. My dad died 1.5 years later of cancer. Since then, I was basically on my own because my sister has already left the house a year before his death. 

2. What motivated you to become a journalist?

I knew I wanted to be a journalist since I was 10 years old. I remember my father always shouted at the TV asking questions, and I thought if I become a journalist I could help him answer all of those questions. Then as I grew up, I started to have my own questions. Working with media organizations, such as Republika, Madina and the New York Times, provided me the access to actually ask many of those questions. In 2008 I decided that Indonesia did not hold all the answers to all my questions-–at least not for the time being and I applied for the Fulbright scholarship to find answers to my outpouring of questions.

On top of that, I love writing. I love telling stories to people. I love how a transfer of Information can change a lot of things. I love the honesty in journalism. I love the bravery, the courage, the integrity of it. I love how it holds people of higher status to be accountable.

3. Tell us about your latest work?

Lately I have been working on the judicial review to the Constitutional Court for the Blasphemy Act. The petition was filed by civil society leaders such as the late, former President Abdurrahman Wahid and The Head of Board of Directors of Religious and Philosophy Study Dawam Raharjo. I helped worked on the Amicus brief, prepared by the Beckett Fund in Washington The Beckett Fund is a public interest law firm that work for Religious Freedom. The Beckett Fund, part of the International Religious Freedom Consortium, worked on a project in Indonesia and Egypt on Religious Freedom.. The International Religious Freedom Consortium is a collaboration among Freedom House, Media Diversity Institute and The Beckett Fund. I also worked on this project prior to my departure to the U.S. and helped with the pre-establishment work and research. I am an avid observer and supporter of religious freedom and freedom of expression in Indonesia. I really hope the petition will go through. 

4. Tell us about The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and how you got involved in the process of creating Indonesia’s pornography law in 2009?

It started when I was still in college. I have always shown a great deal of interest in media policy. My papers have always been consistently about media policy comparing Indonesia to other countries. I was also involved in a group of community activists and students in a movement to keep an eye on what’s being shown on television and reporting it to KPI. My professors at University of Indonesia, who were then KPI members, noticed that and recruited me to be one of 7 people to work on developing KPI’s Broadcast Code of Conduct and Broadcast Program Standard. Similar to my experience working with the pornography law, I started by participating in several discussions and brainstorming sessions held by the Ministry of Women Empowerment.

 5. Has your enrollment to NYU helped you with increasing your ability and knowledge in journalism?

NYU has given me the "big picture" perspective on the craft of journalism. In my current program, Media Studies, I am focusing my studies on media policy and regulation. I am doing my thesis on Indonesia’s broadcast regulation and policy. We are currently undergoing the same process that the United States went through during the 1930’s with the establishment of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the Communication Act. So far, I think we are going on a “better” direction since our regulatory body members chosen by the parliament, not the President. The fact that we are not as market driven, as it was in the U.S.,, gives us a better lead on the issue too. Indonesia can learn from other people’s best practices and mistakes. All we need is for someone to pass along that information, and after obtaining my degree and experience in the U.S., I can bring that information home with me.

6. What are the things that you learned in America that you may wish to implement in Indonesia?

I don’t know how yet, but I would really love to be able to educate Indonesians to be able to discuss or even argue about sensitive matters, such as religion, in the mass media. I believe the more important role an issue plays in the livelihood of the people, the more people need to be engaged in the discourse to share opinions on how it effects their lives. Religion is clearly one of the most important elements in Indonesian people's lives so it should be openly discussed. Censorship blocks the people from knowing what is actually happening.

7. What are your hopes for Indonesian journalism?

That is a tough question. Since 1998 Indonesia has experienced a free press and Indonesian journalism is pretty much heading in the right direction. The issue now is for journalists to get used to having freedom in their hands, and know how not to abuse it. There are still many ethical violations here and there, and that needs to be addressed.

Another important thing is, to make news play a bigger role in Indonesian people’s lives. Indonesian T.V. and Radio are still mainly dominated by entertainment. The biggest selling newspaper, Kompas, only has 500,000 circulation in a country of 200 million people. That is an appallingly low number. We need to use the media to educate and provide more information to the people.

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