PFI Kecam Anji: Jangan Samakan Kerja Wartawan dengan Buzzer

Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI) menilai pengambilan foto jenazah COVID-19 oleh Joshua Irwandi sesuai kode etik jurnalistik.

Reporter: Haris Prabowo

Terbit 20 Jul 2020 08:32 WIB,

Waktu baca ±2 menit

Anji manji. Instagram/duniamanji

tirto.id - Organisasi profesi Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI) mengkritik keras pernyataan Erdian Aji Prihartanto--atau yang akrab disapa Anji--terkait pernyataannya di akun Instagram @duniamanji.

Dalam postingan tersebut, Anji mengungkapkan ada kejanggalan pada foto karya Joshua Irwandi, fotografer yang bekerja untuk National Geographic, yang viral beberapa hari belakangan. Foto itu menggambarkan jenazah terbungkus plastik yang meninggal akibat COVID-19 di salah satu rumah sakit di Jakarta.

Anji dianggap membikin opini seakan-akan foto itu adalah hasil rekayasa dan hasil karya seorang buzzer, bukan jurnalis. Ketua PFI Pusat, Reno Esnir mengatakan lembaganya telah menghubungi Joshua untuk memverifikasi keabsahan foto tersebut. Hasilnya, sang fotografer telah mematuhi kode etik jurnalistik, prosedur perizinan, dan ragam protokol kesehatan yang diwajibkan rumah sakit.

"Kerja pewarta foto dilindungi UU Pers," kata Reno dalam keterangan pers yang diterima reporter Tirto, Senin (20/7/2020) dini hari.

Reno mengatakan lembaganya mengecam unggahan Anji di Instagram yang menyebabkan keresahan di kalangan pewarta foto, fotografer, dan masyarakat umum.

"Kami mendesak saudara Anji untuk menghapus postingan di Instagram terkait foto Joshua Irwandi," kata dia.

View this post on Instagram
To photograph the victims of coronavirus in Indonesia is the most heartbreaking, most eerie photography I have ever done. In my mind at the time I only thought what happened to this person may well happen to people I love, people we all love. I’ve witnessed first hand how the doctors and nurses are continuously risking their lives to save ours. They are the true heroes of this story, and the only way to appreciate their work is to follow what they advise us. We felt it was absolutely crucial that this image must be made. To understand and connect to the human impact of this devastating virus. The image is published here today as a reminder and a warning, of the ever looming danger. To inform us of the human cost of coronavirus and how world governments have let matters get so far. As we head towards the second wave of the pandemic, people must realise they cannot take this matter lightly. This photograph accompanies an article that appears in the National Geographic Magazine @natgeo in the new upcoming August 2020 issue. LINK IN BIO. It is also the first time I’d see the image in print. There are many people to thank, most notably @kayaleeberne, in which this is the first print NG story she edited; @jamesbwellford for reacting on the story from early on; @andritambunan, @kkobre, and @paullowephotography for their advice; and last but not least my mentor @geertvankesterenphoto for his unrelenting support since day one. I would like to dedicate this to the medical staff – whose selfless efforts allow us to continue to live. I am truly humbled to be in their midst countering this pandemic. And to my late Uncle Felix who, two years before he passed away earlier this year, sent me an email: ‘Keep on taking pictures and never fail to report to let the world know what has really happened.’ Please share this story and please act. This is the pandemic of our lifetime. We must win this battle. Supported by the @forhannafoundation and @insidenatgeo COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalist. @natgeointhefield #natgeo #joshuairwandi #natgeoemergencyfund #documentaryphotography #photography #covid19 #covidstories #nationalgeographicsociety #pandemic #stayathome
A post shared by Joshua Irwandi (@joshirwandi) on Jul 14, 2020 at 11:57pm PDT