New face, same values
It is said that one should not judge a book by its cover. That is true. But in these modern times, having a nice fresh cover face helps too.
The Jakarta Post, which you have known for 28 years, has not changed. In many ways, however, we have strived to become better: More pages, more sections, more variety, which includes global business with the International Herald Tribune and a weekly 24-page China Daily Asia edition, frequent in-depth stories, more added value for readers such as our Weekender magazine, and a daily Bali edition.
The Post has evolved from its humble beginnings to the point that, apart from the masthead, it is physically unrecognizable to the daily it was some three decades ago.
Despite these changes our most inherent values have not changed. We continue to serve and thrive for public trust, sustaining journalistic values, which have become increasingly aloof in this age of instant digital media.
We have made our mistakes, there is no doubt. But it has been by accident, rather than design. Never have the words “malice intent” been a part of our editorial agenda. And on those occasions when lapses occur, we have never hid guilt nor remorse. Self-correction is an incessant part of our journalistic pursuit.
At a time when journalism is often equated to conglomeration and political interest, the Post remains steadfast in carrying its independence, sustaining the ethics of pluralism, transparency, equal opportunity, a sober love of state and country along with the belief that together we can create a more humane civil society. It is a monument to the right of an individual citizen to think, articulate themselves and express doubt.
These were the values instilled by the founders of the Post — values that will remain as inherent and priceless as your trust upon us.
Some may consider us “heavy-boring journalism”, but if “boring” equates to “good journalism” then it is a moniker we proudly bear. And while there is money to be made from intrusive drama and senseless gossip, the Post will reject the lure of commerce to engage in triviality to preserve our spiritual reach toward a righteous core.
The Post has never done anything the easy way. We have moved away from purchasing ostentatious prefabricated content just for the sake of filling up your pages. Our purpose of existence has always been to give truly local perspectives. Even contributions and opinions on events abroad are prioritized over those with a vested stake in developments.
That is why we have invested heavily in our human resources, developing local talent who in the progress their career may no longer be directly associated with the Post, but continue to contribute to society in various capacities. This is an investment which we are committed to, irrespective of the immediate monetary losses or gains.
The economics of the 21st century media industry have changed, bewildering and suffocating mainstream media companies throughout. But it has also created many opportunities, which even our supporters and advertisers have not recognized.
Gradually, strategically, sometimes even imperceptibly, the Post has augmented its reach beyond the immediate newspaper audience. With our emergent digital presence and multiple products, the Post has easily tripled its readership. Compiled in a database of two decades of quality English-language journalism, we provide — at your fingertips — not just a window on Indonesia but a well of local wisdom.
This increased exposure has also propelled us to present to the world a fresher face that is convergent to the digital experience. Thus as we mark our anniversary today, the masthead, which has served us proudly for 28 years, will see its final encore.
Its successor will display the traits of a new generation of readers, reflecting the Post in its evolution from a daily newspaper to the dynamism of a multiplatform media organization. All the while retaining its values of being a bold shield of truth, a beacon of light in the darkness and a pillar of red courage.
We thank DM-IDHOLLAND for distilling our inspiration into a work of modern art to proudly captivate readers every morning. And appreciation also goes to Mr. Lim Bun Chai for his follow-up work in further invigorating the evolution of our layout.
Most of all we remain indebted to our loyal readers and supporters. Your encouragement makes us who we are. We thank you.
The Jakarta Post, which you have known for 28 years, has not changed. In many ways, however, we have strived to become better: More pages, more sections, more variety, which includes global business with the International Herald Tribune and a weekly 24-page China Daily Asia edition, frequent in-depth stories, more added value for readers such as our Weekender magazine, and a daily Bali edition.
The Post has evolved from its humble beginnings to the point that, apart from the masthead, it is physically unrecognizable to the daily it was some three decades ago.
Despite these changes our most inherent values have not changed. We continue to serve and thrive for public trust, sustaining journalistic values, which have become increasingly aloof in this age of instant digital media.
We have made our mistakes, there is no doubt. But it has been by accident, rather than design. Never have the words “malice intent” been a part of our editorial agenda. And on those occasions when lapses occur, we have never hid guilt nor remorse. Self-correction is an incessant part of our journalistic pursuit.
At a time when journalism is often equated to conglomeration and political interest, the Post remains steadfast in carrying its independence, sustaining the ethics of pluralism, transparency, equal opportunity, a sober love of state and country along with the belief that together we can create a more humane civil society. It is a monument to the right of an individual citizen to think, articulate themselves and express doubt.
These were the values instilled by the founders of the Post — values that will remain as inherent and priceless as your trust upon us.
Some may consider us “heavy-boring journalism”, but if “boring” equates to “good journalism” then it is a moniker we proudly bear. And while there is money to be made from intrusive drama and senseless gossip, the Post will reject the lure of commerce to engage in triviality to preserve our spiritual reach toward a righteous core.
The Post has never done anything the easy way. We have moved away from purchasing ostentatious prefabricated content just for the sake of filling up your pages. Our purpose of existence has always been to give truly local perspectives. Even contributions and opinions on events abroad are prioritized over those with a vested stake in developments.
That is why we have invested heavily in our human resources, developing local talent who in the progress their career may no longer be directly associated with the Post, but continue to contribute to society in various capacities. This is an investment which we are committed to, irrespective of the immediate monetary losses or gains.
The economics of the 21st century media industry have changed, bewildering and suffocating mainstream media companies throughout. But it has also created many opportunities, which even our supporters and advertisers have not recognized.
Gradually, strategically, sometimes even imperceptibly, the Post has augmented its reach beyond the immediate newspaper audience. With our emergent digital presence and multiple products, the Post has easily tripled its readership. Compiled in a database of two decades of quality English-language journalism, we provide — at your fingertips — not just a window on Indonesia but a well of local wisdom.
This increased exposure has also propelled us to present to the world a fresher face that is convergent to the digital experience. Thus as we mark our anniversary today, the masthead, which has served us proudly for 28 years, will see its final encore.
Its successor will display the traits of a new generation of readers, reflecting the Post in its evolution from a daily newspaper to the dynamism of a multiplatform media organization. All the while retaining its values of being a bold shield of truth, a beacon of light in the darkness and a pillar of red courage.
We thank DM-IDHOLLAND for distilling our inspiration into a work of modern art to proudly captivate readers every morning. And appreciation also goes to Mr. Lim Bun Chai for his follow-up work in further invigorating the evolution of our layout.
Most of all we remain indebted to our loyal readers and supporters. Your encouragement makes us who we are. We thank you.
Big dream and grim reality
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early this week promised the people the moon, unveiling a vision to expand the national economy from US$700 billion now to between $3,850-$4,500 billion by 2025, or the 12th largest in the world., with a per capita income of $13,000 to $16,000, as against $3,000 at present.
But the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of the Indonesian Economic Development in 2011-2025 he announced at a two-day national gathering of ministers, regional government and business leaders, which ended on Tuesday, seemed to be another example of Yudhoyono’s grandstanding.
Two days after the conference the President had to put the nation on the highest level of alert against terrorist bombs after the discovery Thursday of a bomb weighing 150 kilograms next to a gas pipeline near a Catholic church within the Gading Serpong residential complex in Tangerang, near Jakarta.
Earlier Thursday morning, security officials arrested 19 suspects related to the recent book bomb attacks, who led the police to the massive bombs, which was to be exploded during the Good Friday celebrations.
The economic master plan is long on seemingly grand designs on investment plans but acutely short on technical details on how the government and the private sector will go about delivering all the highly ambitious targets.
The master plan designates six regions as main economic corridors for which a total of $385 billion in new investment will be needed.
Sumatra will be developed as an agricultural and energy center, development in Kalimantan will focus on mining and energy and Sulawesi and North Maluku on agriculture and fishery, Bali and East and West Nusa Tenggara on tourism and national food crops, Papua and Maluku on natural and human resources and Java on industry and services.
But Sofjan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association, represented the mood of most businesspeople when he said rather cynically that whatever the master plan was about, it was foremost for the government to rebuild public trust in its promise.
There have been too many plans which remain unimplemented due to bureaucratic inertia, regulatory bottlenecks and an acute lack of basic infrastructure.
Four days before the national gathering, the government and the chamber of commerce and industry hosted a two-day international conference and exhibition on infrastructure development.
But all the big talks about the big infrastructure projects worth tens of billions of dollars seemed to remain a dream because one fundamental issue — the arduous and punitively costly process of land acquisition — remains unresolved.
*****
The economic vision was unveiled against the backdrop of a series of grim realities which confronted the people in their daily lives over the last few days.
Only two days before the opening of the big national conference in Bogor near Jakarta, another suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque inside a Cirebon Police complex in West Java, injuring more than two dozen worshipers, mostly Police officers who were attending a Friday prayer service, last week.
The latest blast further lengthened the list of terrorist bombs in the country over the last 12 years, starting with the attacks on Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Syuhada mosque in Yogyakarta in 1999, the bombings of churches on New Year’s Eve in 2000, the bomb attacks in Bali in 2002, the hotel and embassy attacks in Jakarta in 2002 and 2004, more carnage in Bali in 2005, and two simultaneous major bomb blasts in two Jakarta hotels in 2009.
Two days after the suicide bomb in Cirebon, 14 farmers from Urutsewu district in Kebumen, Central Java, were wounded by gunfire during a confrontation with soldiers guarding an Army research and development office.
The conflict erupted after residents, who had long protested the Army’s use of the area for weapons and ballistics training, blocked troops from using the location last week and vandalized a nearby research facility with knives and makeshift weapons.
A few hours before the President opened the national gathering in Bogor, thousands of local people in West Sumbawa in the eastern part of the country, with the full support of the local administration, staged protests over the central government’s decision to acquire 7 percent of the giant Newmont copper and gold mine.
The demonstrations turned violent as protesters attempting to close down the Batu Hijau gold mining complex clashed with police guarding the entrance to the mine. They demanded the central government drop its plan to buy the shares and leave them to the West Sumbawa administration.
West Sumbawa Regent Zulkifli Muhadli insisted the protesters acted on their own initiative but logistical support from the local administration was quite obvious in the organization of the mass demonstrations.
The protests and the repeated threats from the West Sumbawa administration to close down the multi-billion dollar gold and copper mining complex will certainly hurt new investment in the country.
The bulk of the hundreds of billions of dollars to be invested during the 2011-2025 master plan period is designed to be allocated to regencies outside of Java where most of the country’s rich natural resources are located, but investors will likely be turned off if regional administration leaders are as misguided as those in West Sumbawa.
But the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of the Indonesian Economic Development in 2011-2025 he announced at a two-day national gathering of ministers, regional government and business leaders, which ended on Tuesday, seemed to be another example of Yudhoyono’s grandstanding.
Two days after the conference the President had to put the nation on the highest level of alert against terrorist bombs after the discovery Thursday of a bomb weighing 150 kilograms next to a gas pipeline near a Catholic church within the Gading Serpong residential complex in Tangerang, near Jakarta.
Earlier Thursday morning, security officials arrested 19 suspects related to the recent book bomb attacks, who led the police to the massive bombs, which was to be exploded during the Good Friday celebrations.
The economic master plan is long on seemingly grand designs on investment plans but acutely short on technical details on how the government and the private sector will go about delivering all the highly ambitious targets.
The master plan designates six regions as main economic corridors for which a total of $385 billion in new investment will be needed.
Sumatra will be developed as an agricultural and energy center, development in Kalimantan will focus on mining and energy and Sulawesi and North Maluku on agriculture and fishery, Bali and East and West Nusa Tenggara on tourism and national food crops, Papua and Maluku on natural and human resources and Java on industry and services.
But Sofjan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association, represented the mood of most businesspeople when he said rather cynically that whatever the master plan was about, it was foremost for the government to rebuild public trust in its promise.
There have been too many plans which remain unimplemented due to bureaucratic inertia, regulatory bottlenecks and an acute lack of basic infrastructure.
Four days before the national gathering, the government and the chamber of commerce and industry hosted a two-day international conference and exhibition on infrastructure development.
But all the big talks about the big infrastructure projects worth tens of billions of dollars seemed to remain a dream because one fundamental issue — the arduous and punitively costly process of land acquisition — remains unresolved.
*****
The economic vision was unveiled against the backdrop of a series of grim realities which confronted the people in their daily lives over the last few days.
Only two days before the opening of the big national conference in Bogor near Jakarta, another suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque inside a Cirebon Police complex in West Java, injuring more than two dozen worshipers, mostly Police officers who were attending a Friday prayer service, last week.
The latest blast further lengthened the list of terrorist bombs in the country over the last 12 years, starting with the attacks on Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Syuhada mosque in Yogyakarta in 1999, the bombings of churches on New Year’s Eve in 2000, the bomb attacks in Bali in 2002, the hotel and embassy attacks in Jakarta in 2002 and 2004, more carnage in Bali in 2005, and two simultaneous major bomb blasts in two Jakarta hotels in 2009.
Two days after the suicide bomb in Cirebon, 14 farmers from Urutsewu district in Kebumen, Central Java, were wounded by gunfire during a confrontation with soldiers guarding an Army research and development office.
The conflict erupted after residents, who had long protested the Army’s use of the area for weapons and ballistics training, blocked troops from using the location last week and vandalized a nearby research facility with knives and makeshift weapons.
A few hours before the President opened the national gathering in Bogor, thousands of local people in West Sumbawa in the eastern part of the country, with the full support of the local administration, staged protests over the central government’s decision to acquire 7 percent of the giant Newmont copper and gold mine.
The demonstrations turned violent as protesters attempting to close down the Batu Hijau gold mining complex clashed with police guarding the entrance to the mine. They demanded the central government drop its plan to buy the shares and leave them to the West Sumbawa administration.
West Sumbawa Regent Zulkifli Muhadli insisted the protesters acted on their own initiative but logistical support from the local administration was quite obvious in the organization of the mass demonstrations.
The protests and the repeated threats from the West Sumbawa administration to close down the multi-billion dollar gold and copper mining complex will certainly hurt new investment in the country.
The bulk of the hundreds of billions of dollars to be invested during the 2011-2025 master plan period is designed to be allocated to regencies outside of Java where most of the country’s rich natural resources are located, but investors will likely be turned off if regional administration leaders are as misguided as those in West Sumbawa.
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