Press Day organizers cut budget<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The current monetary crisis has prompted
\nNational Press Day organizers to scrap some planned activities,
\nsaving up to Rp 400 million (US$40,000) from the previously
\nprojected budget of Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
Chief organizer Sofjan Lubis told a press briefing yesterday
\nthere won't be any press exhibition at the event which will be
\nheld on Feb. 9 in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra. In the
\nprevious annual celebrations, there were usually exhibitions
\njoined by major publications and the media.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto will also lead the commemoration from his
\noffice here rather than in Palembang as previously planned,
\nSofjan said.<\/p>\n
"It's simply because of the President's tight schedule,"
\nSofjan said when asked if poor health was behind Soeharto's
\ndecision not to inaugurate the day in Palembang.<\/p>\n
"We hope this year's commemoration will foster the mass
\nmedia's solidarity in facing the crisis," said Sofjan, who is
\nalso the chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association
\n(PWI).<\/p>\n
The theme for this year's National Press Day is Multimedia
\nDevelopment for Fostering National Unity and Integrity.<\/p>\n
"This year's commemoration will be the first to see the
\nparticipation of privately owned television stations and radio
\nstations, which have now become members of the country's press
\nfamily," Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
Among the activities to be conducted this year are a marching
\ncontest, charity programs such as free operations for children
\nwith a cleft palate, and circumcision for poor children.<\/p>\n
Some programs will be moved from Palembang to Jakarta. They
\ninclude seminars and workshops, and a senior-junior journalists
\nget-together, said Sofjan. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-day-organizers-cut-budget-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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