Indonesians' interest in reading high<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers disagreed on Wednesday with claims
\nthat Indonesians had poor reading habits which contributed to the
\npoor sales of books and other printed publications.<\/p>\n
A researcher from Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University's
\nSchool of Psychology, Primanto Nugroho, said Indonesians'
\ninterest in reading was not low at all.<\/p>\n
\"Look at Pos Kota and Rakyat Merdeka newspapers, which have a
\nlot of readers, or traditional fiction stories like Wiro Sableng
\nwhich sells like hotcakes. 'How to' books have also become best
\nsellers,\" he said in a discussion here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said that it was also wrong to say that quality books did
\nnot sell well here.<\/p>\n
\"Books written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer are best sellers
\nhere,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Primanto was commenting on a report by the Indonesian
\nPublishers Association (Ikapi) that Indonesian publishers were
\nonly able to publish 1,500 new titles a year, compared to
\nSingapore's 50,000.<\/p>\n
The association also revealed that publishers could only sell
\n14 million to 15 million copies of books a year, while publishers
\nin the United States could sell up to 400 million copies
\nannually.<\/p>\n
Primanto said the poor sales of books in Indonesia was a
\ncomplex matter.<\/p>\n
He cited a recent joint research by research institution
\nEtnoreflika, the Obor Foundation, IKAPI and the Ford Foundation
\nin three cities -- Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Magelang in Central
\nJava.<\/p>\n
Although focusing on the qualitative aspects rather than the
\nquantitative ones, the research, which was based on interviews
\nwith people from different walks of life and age groups, showed
\nthat Indonesians' interest in reading was high.<\/p>\n
\"But the problem rests on the market's failure to provide the
\nbooks, despite people having an interest in books and the
\nfinancial ability to procure them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta and Jakarta, people do not have time to read,
\ndespite having the interest and the capability to obtain books,
\nwhich are abundant, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Another problem is that Indonesian people have never been
\ngiven the opportunity to get books with themes and content which
\nthey really want to read. Let them now decide,\" Primanto said.<\/p>\n
Noted writer Arswendo Atmowiloto said the main problem of book
\nsales lay in their supply, price and content.<\/p>\n
\"Books are part of an industry. The cheaper they are, the more
\nbooks sold,\" he said, while addressing the same discussion.<\/p>\n
Hilmar Farid, a lecturer at the Jakarta Arts Institute, said
\npoor sales were caused by publishers' poor business judgment.<\/p>\n
\"Publishers only focus on selling books and printed
\npublications in Java, while in West Kalimantan, as an example,
\nthere is a local magazine with a circulation of 10,000 copies.<\/p>\n
\"The magazine reaches the people of the Dayak tribe. It means
\nthat the magazine has succeeded in fulfilling local need,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He cited that 85 percent of the country's printed publications
\nwas distributed in Java. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-interest-in-reading-high-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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