Suharto and expertitis (yet again) at the Jakarta Post

Every now and then (see here, hereand here) strikes The Jakarta Post. This is when some reporter turns in a lame story and some copyeditor has to put the lame story in the news because there is nothing else to put in. For a full explanation of this disease called expertitis see here.Today’s affliction is in the story below. Bad enough that the news is mainly about the post by interviewing other reporters, but then it comes to the expert part.Today’s expert is Effendi Ghazali. The Post tells us he’s an expert but why is he an expert? Is he some academician studying the media? Is he the member of a body that monitors the press? The Post does not tell us. How difficult it is to quote his title or designation and let us readers decide for ourselves whether he has the requisite claim to fame to be quoted.

But wait a minute? The headline promised us “experts”. There is but one, so the poor copyeditor can’t count?

clipped from thejakartapost.com

Media expert says coverage of Soeharto ‘overdose’

The Jakarta Post, JakartaGetting the best footage or photograph of the critically ill Soeharto, along with the expressions of his prominent visitors, has been the focus for dozens of photographers and television staff since the former leader was hospitalized.

Communications and media expert Effendi Ghazali told The Jakarta Post media coverage on Soeharto’s condition was an “over dose” of information, with the same footage being aired repeatedly. “I can remember exactly the footage of Pak Harto being carried on his bed through the hall, (the coverage) has been visually boring,” Effendi said.