It was a very interesting question from an award winning journalist, lecturer Chay Hofilena of the Philippines as she gave lecture at the Workshop on the Investigative Reporting for TV Journalist held by Trans TV and another sponsor. I did n’t participate the workshop but I talked to her on Tuesday as she is my lecturer in the Philippines and also my friend.
“Why TV reporters should wear uniform?” asked she.
“Well, for me, the only reason is that they want to be easily identified because ID card might be not good enough,” I replied.
I told her that it was Metro TV which started doing it several years ago as the TV station is owned by Surya Paloh, who earlier obliged his newspaper reporters Media Indonesia to wear such a uniform.
But now, all TV stations copied the trend.
“I didn’t see such a trend in the Philippines,” I said.
“Exactly,” she said.”Journalists should be free to express themselves just like when they are reporting and writing.”
“I agree. But what’s the participating reporters of your workshop say about this,” I asked her.
“They say the uniform is for security reason when they enter their office it would be easy to identify. ID card could be imitated, therefore they need uniform,” she said.
“Others say that they have no choice but to do it, otherwise they get fired if they refuse to wear.”
She also raised a possibility that such a uniform might be a sign of equality as she saw the Trans TV boss Ishadi was wearing the uniform.
However, a journalist whom I and Chay met, gave a more negative tone over the TV reporters uniform.
“The quality of TV reportage is poor in Indonesia as we don’t have good school of journalism. They are not confident with their reporters therefore they need uniform to identify themselves. With that uniform, sources will easily identity what institution that interview them,” he said.
Chay replied:” May be the uniform is good too because TV reporters do not have to buy cosmetics to make up and clothes..”.
I just laughed when she gave the last joke.
It was an interesting talk 
