MPR Special Session keeps the media busy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some of the people who have been expending the
\nmost energy during the Special Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly are from the media.<\/p>\n
Whether they are from the print, electronic or broadcast
\nmedia, journalists compete with each other to present the latest
\ndevelopments in the political situation.<\/p>\n
While television may be the most popular form of media,
\nespecially now that there is the 24-hour news channel Metro TV,
\nmany people in the capital also rely on the radio for the latest
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
Erwin, who owns a cigarette kiosk on Jl. Thamrin in Central
\nJakarta, says he never turns off his radio because he wants to
\nstay on top of the latest news.<\/p>\n
\"I usually listen to Elshinta,\" he told The Jakarta Post on
\nTuesday, referring to the all-news radio station.<\/p>\n
The radio is also the most reliable news source for many
\noffice workers and people who move around a lot, like taxi
\ndrivers.<\/p>\n
Daya, an employee at a foreign oil company, said he preferred
\nthe radio to television.<\/p>\n
\"That's because I can still listen to it while I'm driving.
\nAnd sometimes, the information is faster than television,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Of the dozens of radio stations in the city, there are two
\nthat focus mainly on news: Elshinta 90.05 FM and Jakarta News FM,
\nwhich broadcasts on 97.4 FM.<\/p>\n
During the Special Session, a historic political moment for
\nthe country, both stations have been fielding all of their
\nreporters to cover the event from every angle.<\/p>\n
Aulia Ariani, or Ola, the program coordinator at Jakarta News
\nFM, said most of the station's 14 reporters were dispatched to
\n\"hot spots\" like the State Palace and the Assembly building.<\/p>\n
\"Others are doing their usual beats, like at police
\nheadquarters. But we still focus on the Special Session. There is
\nalso one reporter who floats around the city,\" she told the Post.<\/p>\n
The reporters, Ola said, were working on two shifts, but this
\ndepended on the situation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Elshinta has 20 reporters who works on four shifts.<\/p>\n
Budiman, one of the program directors at Elshinta, said the
\nstation's 20 reporters were not enough to cover all of the events
\ntaking place.<\/p>\n
\"There are so many important invitations, but unfortunately we
\ncan't cover all of them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The station, Budiman added, also recruited correspondents in
\nSurabaya, Pasuruan and Blitar, all in East Java, the base of
\nformer president Abdurrahman Wahid's most loyal supporters.<\/p>\n
According to Ola and Budiman, their listenerships had
\nincreased greatly during the Special Session.<\/p>\n
\"At least based on the telephone responses. Just now, we
\nconducted a poll of possible vice president candidates and just
\nin an hour there were over 150 callers,\" Ola said.<\/p>\n
The radio stations are also enjoying rising revenue from
\nadvertisers.<\/p>\n
Budiman said there was a waiting list for companies wishing to
\nadvertise their products.<\/p>\n
\"Many commercials have to be delayed because of breaking news.
\nFor example, we were going to have a quiz but then (former)
\npresident Abdurrahman issued a decree so we delayed it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, he added, their clients understood.<\/p>\n
\"A couple of years ago, or even last year, when the political
\nsituation was quieter, our clients usually complained. But now
\nthey don't,\" Budiman noted.<\/p>\n
He also asked listeners to continue phoning the station with
\ninformation and breaking news.<\/p>\n
\"We really thank our listeners because they always call us so
\nwe are never late in covering a story, like the recent bomb
\nblast,\" he said. (hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-special-session-keeps-the-media-busy-1447893297",
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