'Indikator' tabloid hits the streets

JAKARTA (JP): A new economic and political tabloid, Indikator, was launched on Thursday night, intensifying the already tight competition among dozens of new tabloids which have gained permits since the end of the Soeharto era in May.

The tabloid's general manager, Eddy Widjanarko, expressed confidence that the tabloid could compete, saying that he and his staff had an average of 15 years experience in the media business.

"I've been familiar with the media business for a long time. I am not publishing just to follow the trend," Eddy said.

He said he had dreamed of having his own publication for a long time, but never got a permit during the Soeharto era.

He thanked the new government which issued the permit. It took the Ministry of Information only three days to process the application.

Chief editor Daddy Heryono Gunawan claimed the weekly was the only tabloid which applied a political and economic approach to its reports.

"We will also base our reports on facts, not gossip," Daddy said.

He said the tabloid, which would be published every Thursday, was staffed by journalists with experience on economic magazines and newspapers, such as economic magazine Eksekutif, economic daily Harian Neraca and the Suara Indonesia daily.

He said he was targeting middle-class readers aged between 20 and 40.

In the first two months, the circulation of Indikator, which costs Rp 2,500, will be 30,000, he said. The plan is to raise it to 40,000 after three months. (jun)