EJN Media Grantee Supports Investigations on Heavy Metal Contamination in Indonesia

In 2023, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, through its Asia-Pacific project, awarded a media grant to the Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen Jakarta) in Indonesia.

With EJN support, the association sought to deepen journalists’ understanding of scientific data to improve reporting on heavy metal contamination and its impacts on human health. In June 2023, they selected 25 journalists from various provinces in journalists for a two-day workshop in Jakarta titled “The Adverse Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination in the Nearby Environment on the Health of Vulnerable Groups”.

On the first day, Professor Budi Haryanto from the University of Indonesia explained the science behind heavy metal contamination and Nety Widayati, the Director of Water Pollution Control at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), explained the government's role in reducing the effects of this pollution.

On the second day, the journalists learned how to investigate and report on heavy metal contamination. Speakers included Ignatius Haryanto, a senior journalist and lecturer at the Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN), Dewi Safitri, the head of Standards and Practices at CNN Indonesia, and Asnil Bambani, the senior editor of Kontan Media.

AJI Jakarta selected 10 journalists for story grants: 

• Ramadhan Wibisono (Indosiar SCTV)
• Erika Kurnia (Harian Kompas)
• Glenys Octania, (Kompas TV)
• Anugrah Andriansyah (Voice Of America)
• Teddy Rumengang (IniBalikpapan.com)
• Rama Paramahamsa (Balebengong.id) 
• Ellyvon Pranita (Ekuatorial)
• Achmad Rizki Muazzam (Parboa-boa) 
• Chaerani (Republiknews) 
• Abdus Somad  (Jaring.id). 

Mentored by senior journalists, the fellows completed their investigations by November.

Abdus Somad reported on heavy metal contamination caused by industrial activity in the Banten Bay area. With the grant funding, he was able to send water samples and fish from the bay for laboratory testing which revealed high levels of lead.

Somad knew that the quality of his investigation would impact the life of the community: convincing consumers not to consume fish from the bay, and pushing fishers to demand the government take action against the polluting companies. “I think industries located at the coasts need to be transparent about their business activities and answerable to communities,” he said. 

• Read his story here.

After the reports were published, AJI Jakarta invited two fellows, Abdus Somad and Erica Kurnia to join their podcast and share their experiences with a wider audience. 

“We think this initiative is a smart way to engage younger audiences on environmental issues,” said Dewi Sari, EJN’s Indonesia content coordinator.

• Listen to his podcast here.

The journalists spoke candidly about the threats they faced during their investigations, and the challenges encountered to procure laboratory results. Going forward, AJI Jakarta would incorporate safety and security into the workshop curriculum, said Afwan Purwanto, the association’s chairman. “This is very important considering not all the participants understand how to safeguard their safety,” he said. 

And in the future, they’d make sure to allocate a larger portion of the budget for lab testing, he added. 

Banner image: Heavy metals like lead and mercury are toxic to fish and can cause death / Credit: Daniel Ray via Flickr.