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)