Foreign radio stations remain favored alternative

By I. Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): Amid the new era of journalistic freedom in Indonesia, overseas radio stations are competing to cooperate with local stations to relay their programs.

Some overseas radio stations now have their programs aired by local stations. BBC, for example, collaborates with Jakarta-based Elshinta, which relays the British station's news broadcasts three times daily. Two other stations in the capital, Radio Pelita Kasih and Delta FM, cooperate with Voice Of America (VOA) and Radio Australia (RA), respectively.

There are at least 10 overseas shortwave radio services offering programs in Indonesian, including BBC, VOA, RA, Deutsche Welle of Germany, NHK of Japan, Voice of Asia of Taiwan, Radio Korea International and the newly launched Radio Singapore International.

The cooperation of foreign stations with local broadcasters is made possible by new regulations issued by the government last year. The new rules allow private stations not only to produce and manage their own news, but also to work with foreign radio stations.

Print media also enjoys more freedom after enduring years of Soeharto's authoritarian rule. The media can now print controversial reports without fear of being closed down by the government. The process of receiving a publishing license also has been simplified, which explains why there are now many new tabloids, newspapers and magazines on the market.

During Soeharto's regime, publishers were often forced to give the authorities shares in their publication. A number of publications lost their publishing licenses because the government disapproved of the editorial content of their publications. It was no secret that editors sometimes received a phone call from the Ministry of Information or the Armed Forces asking them not to publish particular reports.

It was during this period that overseas radio stations became the best alternative for those looking for local news which could not be published by local media.

Overseas radio stations, once regarded as propaganda tools for foreign nations, claim to attempt to continually produce programs in a balanced and objective manner.

Although in many ways restraints on media in Indonesia have now vanished, foreign radio stations remain popular for a number of Indonesians.

"It is still better than the present local media. More up-to- date, open and courageous," Amrin Nazir, 67, said.

For years, he has been listening to BBC, and sometimes Hilversum (RN) and VOA.

"I understand there is a local radio station which now relays BBC news broadcasts, but I prefer to listen to my shortwave radio. It is more 'artistic,'" the retired executive of Bank Indonesia said.

Syamsurizal, a 26-year-old executive at state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines, believes news reports from foreign radio stations are more balanced.

"I think they cover both sides thoroughly. The news, sometimes, is more to the point," he said.

Syamsurizal added that he has listened regularly to BBC over the last eight months. "Listening to the radio is more enjoyable."

RA's network manager, Jean-Gabriel Manguy, is aware the media in Indonesia now enjoys more freedom, but he said this does not affect overseas radio stations.

"The feedback we get at RA suggests that radio audiences are increasingly hungry for information about Indonesia, Australia and the region.

"RA's strategy of bringing its Indonesian programs to more Indonesian listeners is not affected by how assertive the local media may have become. Our approach is to find out what local radio stations are interested in broadcasting and offer them particular programs," he said.

He added that this approach was very successful and RA now had partnerships with stations in Aceh, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Kediri, Surabaya and Manado.

"RA regards the growing competition within the Indonesian media as a tremendous opportunity. Our experience is that local radio stations are looking for more material to increase the diversity and depth of their programs. RA offers programs which are relevant, well-informed, in touch with the issues that matter to audiences," he said.

RA Indonesian service executive producer and commentator Nuim Khaiyath added that RA's service was supported by loyal listeners.

RA was launched in Indonesia in the early 1950's. The service almost shut down several years ago for a number of reasons, particularly funding difficulties.

Head of BBC Indonesia Menuk Soewondo said that in addition to news relayed by Elshinta in Jakarta, some programs produced by BBC Indonesia also were rebroadcast by 90 other stations in Indonesia.

BBC, which aired its first program in Indonesia in October 1949, also benefits from reform in Indonesia.

"It is easier for us to interview our sources in Indonesia," she said.

Soewondo said a survey showed that around four million people in Indonesia listen to BBC Indonesia regularly. This number does not include others who regularly listen to the Indonesian programs in other countries, she added.

"The audience usually increases when there is a special event in Indonesia, like what happened in May last year (when Soeharto stepped down)," she said.

Since shortwave radio stations can reach people around the world, the Indonesian programs aired by radio stations here can be heard by people in countries across the world.

BBC said there were people in the Middle East listening to its Indonesian programs.

According to Khaiyath, it is very difficult to ascertain shortwave audience figures. RA shortwave services are now available only in the eastern part of Indonesia and it is difficult to assess the size of its audience.

A report showed RA had an estimated weekly audience of some 2.8 million people in Indonesia.