Unspun

Get a load of the spin doctoring by Indosiar and SCTV as they try to defend the droll, uninformative, misyogynistic and trite gossip shows the TV stations are pushing out to unsuspecting Indonesian housewives and other couch potatoes.

The high road they had embarked on, as quoted in The Jakarta Post, gives you the impression they were defending some hallowed principle of journalism, instead of the gossip shows that the Nadlathul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, is considering passing a fatwa against.

“We are going to examine the edict thoroughly and seriously, to find out which part is considered haram,” said Gufron Sakaril, the public relations manager of private TV station Indosiar.

He said that gossip shows, locally known as “infotainment”, were the products of entertainment journalism.

“Gossip shows also refer to the principles of journalism.”

Budi Darmawan, SCTV’s senior public relations manager, said the NU’s plan to ban celebrity news was legitimate in a democracy.

“We’ll wait and see what the edict is like. In our defense, gossip shows always stick to journalistic principles by covering both sides of the story and getting confirmation.”

Gossip, or entertainment news, Budi said, was the same everywhere in the world, in that it was not always positive.

Maybe they should end each gossip show with the phrase, Good Night, and Good Luck?