Crisis takes its toll on two popular magazines

Crisis takes its toll on two popular magazines

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta-Jakarta and Tiara, two popular
magazines managed by the giant Kompas-Gramedia publishing group,
began scaling back their office activities yesterday due to the
impact of the economic crisis.

Widi Krastawan, the group's magazine division deputy director,
said yesterday the management had decided to close the offices of
the two magazines for the first 15 days of each month for
efficiency.

"The decision was made mainly because of the economic crisis.
We hope that we can go back to normal if the situation is
improving."

He said the measure was expected to save between 20 percent
and 25 percent on the publications' production costs.

Jakarta-Jakarta, formerly published weekly, has appeared
monthly since February, he said.

"The reporters usually work a week before the magazine is
printed. So the temporary closure will not disturb their work."

Employees will continue to receive their salaries as usual for
the days the offices are shut.

Disappointment was expressed by a representative of dozens of
employees and reporters of Jakarta-Jakarta who sat yesterday
outside the front of their office on Jl. Palmerah Selatan,
Central Jakarta.

Stanley deplored the decision as he said it was never
discussed with the employees.

"We were just invited and informed about the decision on
Thursday," he said.

Stanley said the employees, especially reporters, strongly
protested the shutting of the office as it would disrupt their
work.

"It's not a matter of salary. It really disturbs our lives as
journalists because we will not be able to maintain our contact
with news sources."

He said the employees were also opposed to the management's
decision to penalize the magazine's senior editor Ibnu Basori for
failing to use his time card.

Ibnu has been temporarily stripped of his position.

"Maybe after sanctioning Ibnu now, the management will
sanction us later, too," Stanley said.

Widi argued that Ibnu's case was a different matter which was
unrelated to the management's decision to close the offices.

"It (the sanction) is just an administrative matter of our
human resources department," he said.

Widi also said the efficiency measure had been communicated
to employees days before it was announced on Thursday. (jun)