Investigation Journalism and Environmental Sustainability

Para peserta mempresentasikan proposal liputan yang mereka ajukan pada pelatihan investigasi lingkungan di Lhokseumawe, 26 - 28 Oktober 2018.

Investigative journalism is still excellent in the midst of the onslaught of online media that has made print media fall in recent years. Print media must be more creative in packing news in the midst of tsunami information and that can be produced by anyone anytime and anywhere. Without creativity, the print media loses its appeal.

In addition to corruption, environmental issues are a sexy issue in reporting investigations. However, journalists, especially in Aceh, have not made the investigation as routine coverage to uncover many cases of environmental crime. The complexity of the investigation and the high cost of being one of the causes of investigative coverage is still rarely found in local media, in addition to limited resources.

Investigative journalism is still not a culture among journalists in Aceh, besides media policies that do not pay more attention to the journalism product. No wonder if journalists do not have adequate investigative skills, even many still cannot distinguish between investigative reporting with Indonesian reporting.

Such were among the prominent figures in the training of environmental investigative journalism for 12 journalists and environmental activists in Lhokseumawe, October 26-28, 2018. The investigation training presented a senior journalist, Yarmen Dinamika as the speaker. In addition, there is also Ayi Jufridar, Dede Suhendra from the representative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

According to Yarmen, there is a vague understanding between investigative journalism and in-depth coverage. He gave an example of the jade fever that hit Aceh some time ago. Yarmen asked his reporters in Aceh Barat Daya to trace where the jade was obtained, whoever mined, the seller, to the price. "That is in-depth coverage. But when the question was added whether mining was carried out in protected forest areas, was there a contribution to the area or entered into the pocket of the person, it had become part of the coverage of the investigation," says Yarmen Dinamika.

Environmental crime, according to Dede Suhendra, often involves economic power and power behind it. This condition causes difficulties in following up on the case to the court. In addition, there is a sectoral ego between government institutions. Investigations conducted by civil investigators are often broken by the police. Then the resources in legal institutions are not enough to investigate the case. "Therefore, many investigators in the police are now taking part in environmental training," said Dede.

The Executive Director of Bina Rakyat Sejahtera (Bytra), Saifuddin Irhas, said the training was not only to provide an understanding of investigations for journalists and environmental activists but also invited journalists and environmental activists to build long-term synergy to educate the public to preserve the environment.

Before attending the environmental investigation training, journalists and environmental activists sent a proposal for coverage in the watershed in Peusangan, Krueng Tanah Jambo Aye, and Krueng Tamiang. Hence the participants came from Bireuen Regency, North Aceh Regency, Kota Lhokseumawe, Kota Langsa, Kabupaten East Aceh, and Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang.

Saifuddin Irhas said all proposals that were submitted were very feasible to be given scholarship coverage. However, his party could only choose three proposals to be funded. "Hopefully, in the future, all investigative proposals will be given scholarships and their works will be printed in the books," he said. []

Jurnalisme investigasi masih menjadi primadona di tengah gempuran media online yang membuat media cetak berguguran dalam beberapa tahun belakangan ini. Media cetak harus lebih kreatif dalam mengemas berita di tengah tsunami informasi dan dan yang bisa dihasilkan siapa pun kapan pun dan di mana. Tanpa kreativitas, media cetak semakin kehilangan daya tarik.

Selain korupsi, masalah lingkungan termasuk isu yang seksi dalam pemberitaan investigasi. Namun, jurnalis terutama di Aceh belum menjadikan investigasi sebagai liputan rutin untuk membongkar kasus-kasus kejahatan lingkungan yang banyak terjadi. Rumitnya investigasi dan mahalnya biaya menjadi salah satu penyebab liputan investigasi masih jarang ditemukan di media lokal, selain sumber daya yang masih terbatas.

Jurnalisme investigasi masih belum menjadi budaya di kalangan jurnalis di Aceh, selain kebijakan media yang tidak menaruh perhatian lebih terhadap produk jurnalisme tersebut. Tidak heran jika wartawan tidak memiliki kemampuan investigasi yang memadai, bahkan masih banyak yang belum bisa membedakan antara investigative reporting dengan indept reporting.

Demikian antara lain yang mengemuka dalam pelatihan jurnalisme investigasi lingkungan bagi 12 jurnalis dan pegiat lingkungan di Lhokseumawe, 26 – 28 Oktober 2018. Pelatihan investigasi tersebut menghadirkan jurnalis senior, Yarmen Dinamika sebagai pemateri. Selain itu, juga ada Ayi Jufridar, Dede Suhendra dari perwakilan World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Menurut Yarmen, ada pemahaman yang kabur antara jurnalisme investigasi dengan liputan mendalam. Dia menyontohkan demam batu giok yang melanda Aceh beberapa waktu lalu. Yarmen meminta wartawannya di Aceh Barat Daya untuk menelusuri dari mana batu giok itu diperoleh, siapa saja yang menambang, penjualnya, sampai harganya. “Itu adalah liputan mendalam. Tapi ketika ditambahkan pertanyaan apakah penambangan dilakukan di kawasan hutan lindung, apakah ada restribusi untuk daerah atau masuk ke kantong oknum, itu sudah menjadi bagian dari liputan investigasi,” papar Yarmen Dinamika.

Kejahatan lingkungan, menurut Dede Suhendra, sering melibatkan kekuatan ekonomi dan kekuasaan di belakangnya. Kondisi inilah yang menyebabkan sulitnya menindaklanjuti kasus tersebut sampai ke pengadilan. Selain itu, ada ego sektoral antara lembaga pemerintah. Penyelidikan yang dilakukan oleh penyidik sipil, seringkali dipatahkan oleh kepolisian. Kemudian sumber daya di instansi hukum belum cukup untuk mengusut kasus tersebut. “Karena itu, sekarang banyak penyidik di kepolisian yang mengikuti pelatihan lingkungan,” ungkap Dede.

Direktur Eksekutif Bina Rakyat Sejahtera (Bytra), Saifuddin Irhas, menyebutkan pelatihan itu bukan saja untuk memberikan pemahaman tentang investigasi bagi jurnalis dan pegiat lingkungan, tetapi juga mengajak wartawan dan pegiat lingkungan untuk membangun sinergisitas dalam jangka panjang untuk mengedukasi masyarakat untuk menjaga kelestarian lingkungan.

Sebelum mengikuti pelatihan investigasi lingkungan, para jurnalis dan pegiat lingkungan mengirim proposal liputan di seputaran daerah aliran sungai di Peusangan, Krueng Tanah Jambo Aye, dan Krueng Tamiang. Makanya peserta berasal dari Kabupaten Bireuen, Kabupaten Aceh Utara, Kota Lhokseumawe, Kota Langsa, Kabupaten Aceh Timur, dan Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang.

Saifuddin Irhas mengatakan, seluruh proposal yang masuk sangat layak untuk diberi beasiswa liputan. Namun, pihaknya hanya bisa memilih tiga proposal saja untuk dibiayai. “Harapannya, ke depan seluruh proposal investigasi diberi beasiswa dan karya mereka dibukukan,” tandasnya.[]