'Indikator' tabloid hits the streets

'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)