Forty years on, 'Kompas' grows slimmer and sharper

Readers of the nation's largest newspaper, Kompas, were introduced on June 28 to its new format. The daily's chief editor, Suryopratomo, spoke with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan Max Sijabat on the modernization of the 40-year-old newspaper.

Question: Why did you alter the size and design of Kompas?

Answer: Well, first of all, we decided to change the daily's format after many years of preliminary discussions and preparations. It's the third major change in the daily's design. Prior to that, the second major change was in 1996, when we invited media designer Roger Black to redesign the format. But, the daily's size was maintained.

In observing the daily's 40th anniversary, all stakeholders along with Pak Jakob Oetama -- in his capacity as co-founding father -- decided to publish the daily in a new format. All the necessary preparations, including the establishment of an internal design team and the hiring of a professional media designer, were made one year before.

The 40th anniversary this year was seen as a good opportunity, but not only to make (physical) changes. The vision and values of the newspaper have also undergone a comprehensive transformation. This transformation is reflected in the daily's new look, content and ads placement.

We needed a comprehensive overhaul to accommodate our fast-growing young readership and to make the daily more competitive amid fierce competition.

Do you follow global trends in the media industry for the sake of efficiency

Yes, the new size and look is in line with global trends. We have realized that amid the digital and post-modern era, people spend only a short time reading newspapers as their daily routine is often rigid.

The face-lift is comprehensive as we have changed not only the daily's design and size but added pages for certain domestic, human and international issues, which, so far, have been our strength in running the newspaper.

In line with demands brought on by global trends, we are committed to maintaining our credibility and sharpening the values we have adopted. Therefore, we are committed to running accurate and concise stories, to maintain the credibility we have developed for 40 years among our readership.

Our reasons for modernizing the design were not just about efficiency. The process was carried out in healthy financial conditions and the production costs were virtually the same, before and after the face-lift. Despite the change in size, production costs have remained high because all pages are fully colored.

Would you like to go into details on the new look?

Mario Garcia helped redesign not only Kompas, which appears in Jakarta, but also its special local editions/sections in certain regions across the country.

With the redesign, we are making a transformation. We want to give the public a good impression that the changes are made not amid a crisis but amid a healthy financial condition, with the strong will to give our readers a better product.

It is better to undergo transformation pre-crisis as when the crisis eventually comes it will be too late to make changes.

With the transformation, we have not only made changes to the daily's format but require all staff, especially journalists, to make adjustments. Journalists need to be able to place themselves amid the changes, and improve their competence in line with the demands of the new Kompas.

Journalist must improve their competence in news-gathering and writing. They are required to think and write simultaneously -- it is what is called visual thinking.

Our journalists are required to write concisely and accurately. Redundancies must be avoided and professionalism is maintained. But they need time to make the adjustment.

Kompas also came up with an editorial policy to give bylines to well-prepared stories, either hard-news stories, analysis or features, which usually appear on the front page. The giving of bylines is also an incentive for journalists.

How about the number of pages

Kompas is now between 48 pages and 64 pages. Previously, it was less than 44 pages. The number of pages is more than previously as the number of certain section's pages is 16 from the previous 12. The pages have been increased to accommodate the increasing number of problems emerging in all fields.

Is the new format final?

Yes, but the process is still underway. We have a stylebook for all pages and sections and all sides in the editorial room are required to comply with it. But our team and Mario's team are still working to supervise the process until it is found to be complete.

In September, Garcia will return to Jakarta to make sure that the process has been smooth and in line with the planning. We are satisfied with Garcia who has closely supervised and accompanied the team in the design process.

How would you rate the public response to the daily's new format?

More than 90 percent of our readers, contributors and advertisers gave it the thumbs-up when the daily appeared on June 28.

During the one-year preparation, the management and the daily's research center held an intensive discussion group with our readership, columnists, experts and advertisers who fully supported the new format.

How many copies do you print at present?

Between 480,000 and 500,000. But over the last few months, the Saturday edition has increased to up to 660,000, far higher than Kompas Minggu (Sunday edition).

The significant increase in copies of the Saturday edition has a lot to do with the fact that Saturday is an off-day for most workers and the edition provides more room for special and interesting issues.

Do you have a target for increasing your readership?

A: Speaking frankly, we are obsessed with printing one million copies sometime in the future.