'[aikon!]' offers alternative media

'[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.