Jakarta Journalists Tackle Heavy Metal Pollution with EJN Grant in 2023
In 2023, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network awarded a media grant to the Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI Jakarta) in Indonesia. This funding aimed to enhance journalists’ understanding of scientific data regarding heavy metal contamination and its effects on human health.
AJI Jakarta organized a two-day workshop in June 2023, titled “The Adverse Effects of Heavy Metal Contamination in the Nearby Environment on the Health of Vulnerable Groups.” The workshop selected 25 journalists from various provinces.
On the first day, Professor Budi Haryanto from the University of Indonesia discussed the science of heavy metal contamination. Nety Widayati from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry highlighted the government’s efforts to address this pollution.
AJI Jakarta awarded story grants to ten journalists:
- 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, these fellows completed their investigations by November. Abdus Somad reported on heavy metal contamination from industrial activities in Banten Bay. His laboratory tests showed high levels of lead in water and fish samples. Somad aimed to inform the community about the dangers of consuming local fish and encourage fishers to demand action from the government.
After publishing their reports, AJI Jakarta invited Abdus Somad and Erika Kurnia to share their experiences on a podcast. “This initiative engages younger audiences on environmental issues,” said Dewi Sari, EJN’s Indonesia content coordinator.
The journalists shared the threats they faced during investigations and the difficulties in obtaining lab results. AJI Jakarta plans to incorporate safety training into future workshops. Chairman Afwan Purwanto stated that understanding safety is crucial for all participants. They also plan to allocate more funds for laboratory testing in the future.
For more insights, you can listen to the podcast featuring Abdus Somad here.