Opportunity Out of Challenge—Opening up Media Freedom

As this chapter demonstrates, revolutions can lead to major social change, not necessarily intended within the revolution but because everything is suddenly thrown up into the air … and can come down differently to what was originally in place. This chapter traces how it was possible for UNESCO to capitalize directly on the instability thrown into the previous censorship regime of Indonesia to take action—in support of UNESCO’s media mandate within the United Nations—to bring radical change towards freedom of expression to Indonesia. With strong support from UNESCO Headquarters Communications experts, Stephen was able to meet with the incoming minister in the transition government just a few weeks after the revolution, to initiate action. This chapter tells the story of how this was done, plus how and when new liberal Press Broadcasting Law was approved by Parliament. UNESCO did not only focus on changing the law however, but instead, handled the development of an internet connected network of independent and investigation-schooled radio stations to exchange news stories every day across the country and guard against imposition of threats to freedom of expression.