'[aikon!]' offers alternative media

Bayu Dwi, Contributor, The Jakarta Post

Piles of bulletins and promotional brochures of various cultural events lie stacked in a room where a number of employees enthusiastically work at desks in a sunken office area off to the rear.

This is just a glimpse of the daily activity at Yayasan Aikon Media Publik (YAMP), a non-profit foundation that focuses on the documentation and publication of information on the arts, environment and cultural heritage. Located in Kemang, South Jakarta, its appearance differs from other offices in general. Without the usual front desk filled by receptionists, this foundation also has no security guards.

While guests visiting other offices are always required to leave their identity cards at the front desk, YAMP does not enforce this procedure. However, that does not mean visitors can do whatever they like. The work space was designed in such a way as to allow almost all the occupants to be in full view of the main entrance.

Some second floor offices are partitioned off by transparent glass panes, while those employees in the inner offices work in spaces that have neither partitions nor doors. From the lower level, employees have a wider view of the whole area without being visible to guests. This is no doubt a well thought out but simple security system.

Since 1994, YAMP has been publishing a free periodical with a circulation of 20,000. According to Enrico Halim, one of the editors at [aikon!] the publication is a manifestation of YAMP's public service mission.

"It should be the government's function, but as you can see, they haven't been able to do so," said Rico, his nickname. The monthly goes out to over 100 selected places in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta, with a readership of about 100,000 middle-class people aged 20 to 35.

Profit is not its main goal and if there is any, it is returned to the public.

"We wish to provide information to as many segments of the public as possible on a wide range of issues, but the cost has to be derived from the media's ads. If profit is desired, we'll have to seek graphic design orders, for instance," explained the graphic design graduate from the University of Colorado.

"Some even think we are a non-governmental organization," remarked Rico with a smile. This idea may have come from the recycled paper used for its issues. In the beginning, the paper was a brownish color, which was rare but typically natural. Lately [aikon!] has used predominantly white paper and the material is local.

The NGO brand earned by this environmental-conscious institute is relevant. "It's not just about the environment, but rather, the environment as part of culture in its broadest sense," added Rico.

During the monetary crisis, [aikon!] continued to reach its readers each month. "But we cut the circulation from 20,000 to only 5,000 copies, except during the Idul Fitri holidays, when it was absent," said Ukke Rukmini Kosasih, Rico's co-editor.

[Aikon!] cooperates with various agencies and individuals, and this explains the presence of many busy "strangers" in YAMP's office. Sometimes it is deserted, especially when almost all of the personnel have to join a certain program, such as a heritage weekend, in cooperation with the Directorate of Archeology.

During this program, YAMP assists the government in its efforts to conserve several historical buildings, such as the Batavia Museum in Kota, in addition to gathering data on these buildings located all over the city, particularly in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

YAMP usually recruits volunteers due to its limited staff. "We give opportunities to society to participate in realizing our mission," Ukke added.

The public may join in diverse activities as well, such as Gelar Kebon (garden display), Pagi (pakai lagi, reuse), Lintas Seni (art trek) and Berbagi (sharing), to mention a few. These programs are meant to inspire public concern over various issues that we tend to overlook.

With the sharing activity, for example, there is a light discussion on interesting topics ranging from digital art, comics, coral reefs, street kids, amateur astronomy to the music shows of Sawung Jabo and Geng Gong. Participants also invite experts to share their knowledge in a nonformal setting, for opinion or information-sharing amid a relaxed atmosphere at a convenient location.

The venue is the garden in the backyard of YAMP's offices. Some time ago, a sharing activity was held with Chandra Tanzil, the producer and director whose works represented the country in the First Time Filmmaker festival of Discovery Channel.

Another more unique program is Pagi, which aims to encourage the recycling of products we usually throw away, particularly the reuse of paper. The public needs only to drop off used paper to [aikon!], which will then be transferred to recycling plants.

"Many have shown interest. So far 21 companies and seven institutes are on the list," said Rico proudly. "We once got used paper that filled a whole truck, and we knew where to take it for recycling," Ukke said.

By November 2001, [aikon!] had contributed a total of 23,111 kilograms of used paper.

[aikon!] (icon) was taken from a Byzantine word. Churches of the past used to be decorated with pictures as symbols, but the significance contained therein was not as simple as the representations. This inspired the choice of [aikon!].

Funds come from sponsors, advertisers, donors and [aikon!]membership fees.

The publication now boasts 44 members, but this is still far from its ideal. Each member pays an annual membership fee of Rp 54,000 if they live in Jakarta or Rp 66,000 if they are in other provinces. Income from ads is low as [aikon!] likes to barter, said Handayani Ningsih, [aikon!]'s manager.

With all its noble objectives, YAMP remains open to everyone to share knowledge, idealism and concern as well as support, as long as there are no strings attached.