Grade 12 Editorial Writing Worksheet

Government Has Lost the Plot on Film Import Tax Jim Santana

Cinema-goers in Indonesia will not have the pleasure of viewing top drawer foreign
films if the government’s decision to go ahead with imposing crippling import taxes
on the distribution of such films in the country is not revoked.

The Motion Picture Association has previously said that it would stop bringing in new
foreign films because of the new levy on imported film distribution, which came into
effect in January. Distributors of imported films currently have to pay a 23.75 percent
excise duty, a 10 percent tax to the central government and another 10-15 percent
of the profit from ticket sales to regional governments. The new levy on distribution
will be up to 23.75 percent.

No other country has similar levies on foreign films. Every year local cinemas screen
50 to 80 local titles and 100 to 150 foreign titles. If the government does not revoke
this new policy, it will kill the cinema industry in Indonesia.

The new levy not only hurts businesses, it puts the livelihood of thousands of people
in peril. Cinema companies directly employ more than 10,000 staff and provide
income for thousands more who make a living selling food, drinks and other goods
to movie fans.

“If no solution is found, Indonesian cinemas will close down one by one,” said
Noorca Masardi, a spokesman for 21 Cineplex, which operates 500 screens across
the country. The new levy is another example of a poorly thought-out policy that
hurts business and jeopardises jobs.

Worse still, the authorities have not been able to come up with sound reasons for
imposing the crippling new levy. The public is thus left completely in the dark and
cinema operators fretting over their future. Only those producers of pirated DVDs
may be rejoicing at the prospect of a booming business.

Such uncertainty is not good for the industry and the country. Foreign films not only
offer wholesome entertainment, they provide inspiration to local producers, actors
and directors. If foreign films are no longer screened here, the entire industry risks
being affected with untold jobs put at stake.

At a time when Indonesia is enjoying being in the global spotlight, such

destructive policies also affect the image of the country. Instead of opening up to the
world, we seem to be regressing. If the new levy is intended to protect the local film
industry, the government is going about it completely in the wrong way. Even local
industry figures are raising doubts about the effectiveness of such a move in helping
the local film industry.
It is not too late for the government to reverse its policy and scrap the new import
levy. As it has just been introduced, the damage is still not too severe. But if it does
not, it will destroy the film industry, deprive Indonesians of the pleasure of watching
world-class movies and, most importantly, do irreparable harm to its international
image.

*Adapted from the Jakarta Post

Answer the following:

1. As you read the editorial, what are some of the persuasive techniques you can
see being used in an editorial? List the types of techniques, some examples and
to what extent the technique has been used.

2. What type of tone is being used in the editorial?

3. What are some key differences you already notice between an editorial, a
magazine article and a speech?

4. Comment on the use of the following words in the article and their effect.
a. cripple
b. kill
c. jeopardise

5. Top drawer (used in the first paragraph) is an idiomatic expression. What does it
mean?

6. What does the author mean by the term “being in the global spotlight”? Is this
meant literally or figuratively?

7. How has the author of the editorial attempted to create humour in the heading?