The 'Post' turns 19<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post marks its 19th year of continuous publication
\ntoday, with no pomp or fanfare and, no doubt, the anniversary
\nwill almost go unnoticed by the public it strives to serve. Yet,
\nin the 19 years since its first appearance on April 25, 1983,
\nmajor developments have transpired and changes taken place, the
\nimportance of which this newspaper has striven to convey to the
\npublic, both in news reports and commentaries, as well as
\nconditions and circumstances will allow.<\/p>\n
Within the context of informing and enlightening the public
\nthrough news, news analyses and constructive debate, all the
\nstaff and management of The Jakarta Post can honestly pledge to
\nits readers that this newspaper will always strive to be true to
\nits initial commitment to what Walter Williams, of the University
\nof Missouri School of Journalism, so aptly termed the \"journalism
\nof humanity\", which encompasses such universal values as freedom,
\njustice and human dignity.<\/p>\n
Not so long ago, a debate was held by a forum of editors of
\nJakarta's mainstream media on what the role of the media should
\nbe in such snarled-up conditions as exist in this country at
\npresent. Should the media be content with merely being recorders
\nof history, or should it do more? After some debate, the
\nconclusion accepted by the meeting was that the media owed it to
\nthe public to share the burden of responsibility for either the
\nsuccess or failure of democratic reform with other sectors of
\nsociety. Within the limits of its ethical and professional
\nstandards the media should contribute to building democracy in
\nthis country. This is what this newspaper has committed itself to
\ndo.<\/p>\n
In our present condition of uncertainty caused by the
\nprolonged economic, social and political crisis, meanwhile,
\nchange appears to be taking place more quickly all around us,
\ngiving rise to both concern and opportunity, which we feel the
\npublic should accurately be informed about. It is for this reason
\nthat the Post is now striving to reengineer the newspaper to make
\nit ready for a future in which a more enlightened press is
\nclearly needed -- one that is better equipped to impart meaning
\nto the accelerated pace of development.<\/p>\n
Internally, this means, among other things, retraining,
\nreorganizing and restructuring the newspaper and its staff to
\nmake it more adept at informing the public, as objectively and as
\naccurately as possible, of what is really going on in this
\ncountry and the world. One of the byproducts of these efforts and
\ncertainly the most visible to the public -- although not
\nnecessarily the most substantial one -- is the redesigning of the
\nnewspaper's appearance, with which readers have now been familiar
\nfor some time.<\/p>\n
Obviously, however, reengineering a newspaper is an ongoing
\nprocess and, in the case of Indonesia, one that is being
\ncomplicated by the fact that in the past four years since the
\nreform process was set in motion, the shift from authoritarian
\nrule to democracy has not been moving in the desired direction.
\nAt the same time, with access available to all kinds of
\ninformation, brought by an increasingly sophisticated media, the
\npublic should have access to the information it really needs in
\norder for it to develop into a true civil society. As things are
\nat present, the public is being inundated by a flood of media
\ninformation. However, the information that is capable of
\nimparting relevant meaning to the nation remains inadequate.<\/p>\n
Under such circumstances, what we at the Post need most of all
\nis feedback from the public, both to help us pass through this
\nperiod of transition toward democracy and to encourage the public
\nto expand the ongoing public debate on current issues. In our
\ncurrent state of growing public apathy, debate is certainly
\nneeded more than ever. If we reject debate, we must not blame
\nothers if the nation should fail in its current drive for reform.
\nThat is why the Post wishes to contribute to the attempt to
\nencourage a public debate that is both free and constructive.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, we would like to thank all our readers for the
\nsupport that they have given us over the years. Their support has
\ncertainly helped us move forward on the long and rocky path
\ntoward becoming a mature newspaper and, hopefully, toward the
\nattainment of democracy in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n
Of course, over those years too, we have made many mistakes,
\nsailing, as it were, in uncharted waters. We sincerely apologize
\nfor those mistakes with the promise that we intend to do all that
\nis possible within our limited means to prevent them from
\nrecurring in the future. The Post has been able to survive
\nthrough thick and thin throughout these past 19 years due to the
\nsupport of its readers. We thank you for your trust, with an
\nassurance that we will never take that trust for granted.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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