Jakob reflects on past, looks ahead

Kurniawan Hari and Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakob Oetama was born in Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, on Sept. 27, 1931. He is the son of a retired teacher. His parents wanted him to become a teacher and a Catholic priest.

After finishing senior high school in Yogyakarta in the 1950s, he taught at a junior high school in Cipanas, West Java.

One year before finishing his university studies in history, he took a position as an editor at the Penabur weekly in 1955. With his colleague P.K. Ojong, in 1963 he started Intisari, a monthly publication along the lines of Reader's Digest.

In 1965, they started Kompas. The paper, which celebrates its 40th anniversary on June 28, has not only become the country's biggest newspaper, but also the backbone of leading business group Kompas-Gramedia Group, which has subsidiaries in hotels, department stores, television and radio stations.

Jakob was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Yogyakarta- based Gadjah Mada University in 2003, where he finished his studies in 1961.

The award was given in appreciation of his achievement in developing journalism for peace in the country.

Question: How do you see the overall condition of the print media in facing competition from television and radio stations that offer various programs?

Answer: It is interesting. I also see this phenomenon. I wonder (whether) the print and electronic media, especially television, can combine.

Based on my observation -- and some analysts also see this -- I conclude that there is a new phase in the development of the media. I think it is an extraordinary progress.

Today, the media, pioneered by the electronic media like television, have created an "open stage". On this stage, news, reports and comments become more lively and everyone watches them. They get a larger audience. People who usually read newspapers or magazines have become television viewers. They watch television, because the "visual" experience is now very important. If we bring news or an event onto the stage, public opinion becomes more real, more alive.

Therefore, the media should not only report news but must also be able to choose the best from the events to present "shows on stage" -- (which are) watchable on television, listenable on radio and readable in the print media. The electronic and print media have started to combine and they are getting more intensive.

Perhaps, the media people do not really understand this new situation. The electronic media do not understand and the print media get carried away.

Well, we have democracy. Through democracy we get freedom, without freedom of the press, what is democracy? For me, I think there are two aspects in press freedom: the "freedom from" and the "freedom for".

We have been fighting for "freedom from", from the powers (that be) or from public pressure. We have achieved it. The control of the government is weakening. Sure, there is a phenomenon where media disputes are brought to court. I think this is part of the process.

If we look at the progress in society, like the way pilkada (local elections) are taking place and some political parties break up, I think the press must start to think about the "freedom for".

For what? Of course for the development of democracy to improve the lives of the people.

There is another concept among social democratic groups. They fight for freedom, democracy, politics, human rights, social rights, economic rights and cultural rights. Freedom must be aimed at developing the economic, social and cultural conditions of the people.

What was the experience of Kompas in surviving the oppressive New Order regime of Soeharto?

Frankly speaking, I have a very basic stance: Universal values must be held as a reference point and Kompas has used them as a reference from the beginning. As I also monitor the social, political and cultural conditions of the nation, I find that the social condition of the nation affects the implementation of these universal values.

We have proven it now. Pilkada is (supposed to) bring about democratic values -- fair and peaceful competition. Here, however, it produces violence. There is also a phenomenon in which the regent of Temanggung was urged to resign by the local people. It also happened to the regent of Wonogiri.

Well, but why are the people's economic conditions not getting better? The excuse will be: It takes time. But, I think there must be signs of improvement.

It means that the media must keep on monitoring the situation to meet the "freedom for". We record the event and make reports in a certain framework.

I take this into consideration. We must see the real condition of the people so that the goal of democracy can be achieved effectively.

Then in a society -- either in an autocracy or democracy, culture is important. For example, now we practice democracy, but have the state leaders practiced a democratic culture? Or is it still feudalistic?

We have practiced -- well, are going to practice -- democracy, but the culture remains the same. The state leaders are still sensitive to criticism and find something to blame. It is because we still have a feudalistic culture. In fact, democracy should be transparent.

During the era of Pak Harto (Soeharto), I took all these into consideration and played carefully. My colleagues Bung Rosihan (Anwar) and (columnist) Brouwer sneered at me. They called it jurnalisme kepiting (crab journalism).

We always monitored the situation. If there was a warning from colleagues or the government, we stepped back. Afterwards we moved forward again.

When I presented this at a seminar of the East-West Center in Hawaii, they said that I am like a guerrilla soldier. We survive but do not surrender.

Still, there are the pros and cons. I accept it. There is criticism. Some have said that Kompas is too powerless and too weak. But, one thing is certain; we have credibility.

We have no political ambitions. We think our assets are quite enough. With all this we can maintain our credibility and "independence".

Sure, I acknowledge that, to a certain degree, I made adjustments to the actual conditions.

We dare to live with sacrifice and commitment. There are media that dare to die, I appreciate this also. But, to dare to live with commitment and to maneuver is also a method.

In fact we also experienced a closure in 1978. We were the last to get the permit to publish again.

Indonesian culture is so powerful and omnipotent, that (thanks to its influence) the autocratic government (of Soeharto) did not turn out to be very cruel. It still provided room (for the media) to maneuver.

But, there is a plus and minus. Please, make an evaluation. The important thing is that we did not surrender. We kept on seeking a way. It is an interaction. It needs stamina and smartness.

The most important thing is that we never gave in to political ambition and money. Thank God, we have enough money and we have no political ambitions. We don't want to get state positions.

Of course, there is a fight.

How do you see the trend of bringing media disputes to court?

All of us, including Kompas, are aware of it. Now, there is a problem with the law. Like other tools, the law can also deviate from its goal. It is a fact that people can easily file a lawsuit against the media. That is why we must be smart.

Once we are brought to court, we will lose much time and often feel afraid (over the prospects of paying compensation). But, there is a positive side, that is we are urged to work professionally. We must uphold the code of ethics. Unavoidably, we must be accountable for any reports.

For this, the presence of the Press Council is quite helpful. All problems should be settled by giving the public the chance to clarify any false reports. If this does not work, the dispute will be settled through mediation at the Press Council.

This will provide a faster solution than the courts, besides, we will not lose money. (laughing)

Which is more difficult, facing government control or a lawsuit?

For the press, technically, both of them are equally disturbing, but the one that hampers the press freedom, is more serious.

Still, there is the positive side of it. We must be more accurate.

The style of Kompas seems to be outdated today. Will this paper maintain its style or change to become more direct?

I think that impression is correct. We are not straightforward. Possibly, it (the style) comes from me who has a Javanese background, (laughing). From childhood, Javanese people do not ask for money directly, but they often tell the reasons first.

Perhaps, I brought that culture (into the paper) and it suited the situation at the time of the New Order government.

But, you are right. We must be straightforward now, because space is precious, and there is no time to read long stories. We must make the stories concise. It does not mean a short story, but concise -- the content is the same but with fewer words.

We will not say "carry out the killing" but "kill". We do not write "commit the robbery" but "rob". It is clearer.

There is another style, namely storytelling. I see it in The Jakarta Post. I asked your chief editor Endy (Bayuni), what did you get from the Niemann scholarship at Harvard? "It is storytelling, Sir, and I got some books. I read them, and we will try it."

Storytelling is exciting. It is not abstract but concrete. Analysis tends to be abstract. Readers do not like abstract articles. They want concrete and lively writing that reflects the ambience. That is storytelling.

Kompas is willing to adopt it. Of course we will sustain our credibility, professionalism and refer to the code of ethics.

Do you think it is a burden for Kompas?

It is not a specific burden for Kompas, but all the media. We must be responsible for what we have published. It is read by many people. If Kompas runs a story, the public will see it as the truth. This is somehow a burden.

This drives us to be accurate. We do not run stories that discredit or hurt someone.

Trial by the press is another problem. When there was only the print media, trial by the press could easily be avoided because writing is selective.

With regards television, they also make a choice but they tend to choose pictures or scenes that are attractive, the attractiveness of differences or conflict. Television presents more dramatic reports (compared to those presented by the print media). The audience can easily watch it.

Trial by the press should be taken into consideration seriously because it is hard to rehabilitate (the reputation of those discredited by the television) because the public has already seen it. We have to find another format.

We know that in the United States people are not allowed to take a picture of a trial. Only sketches are available. I don't know what our policy will be in the future.

I think we must maintain and improve our newspapers to be more acceptable, accurate, comprehensive and respect the rights of the people.

How do you see the future of the print media given the fact that the electronic media has grown so fast?

This has been the question of the World Association of Newspapers Publishers and the Magazine Association for 15 to 20 years. When television and other electronic media emerged, there was a worldwide phenomenon of the decreasing circulation of newspapers.

Media people are seeking a way and this association -- a professional organization -- gives recommendations. This organization has conducted research and we can take lessons from it. The drop of circulation is because the electronic media can provide news anytime. Television can air breaking news anytime, not periodically. By nature the print media is periodic, the morning newspaper is available in the morning.

Periodic media is defeated. Reading needs more effort than watching. We make a distance while reading, whereas while watching we are carried away.

For Indonesia, the situation is even worse because the reading habit is weak. Japan, where the people have a strong reading habit, has also sees a decreasing circulation. Also other countries.

We must find a way. What is the disadvantage of the print media compared to the electronic media? Visualization. What else? Staging. If an event is brought to the stage for clearer view, the effect is much greater.

Then, (in television) visualization is also combined with entertainment. So important is the aspect of entertainment that there are the terms infotainment and edutainment. So there must be an aspect of entertainment. Newspapers and magazines must follow and apply the "dimension of entertainment", adjust it with the nature of the print media through "people, fashion, etc." columns. The entertainment in electronic media comes simultaneously with the arrival of the consumerism, image building and lifestyle.

We must monitor all these.

Consequently, Kompas has planned a redesign, scheduled (to start) on June 28. This will make the newspaper easier and clearer to read. But, still the content is the king. Of course, content, with a nice presentation. It is unavoidable, we must go there, The Jakarta Post has made it.

The new design includes the byline credit. It will give personality, professional pride, stimulus and professional competence.

Do you also think about your successor?

Yes, I also think about this. I often talk about this with my colleagues, my generation, the late Pak Ojong. Whether our creation will be successful or not depends on the next generation. The young generation must understand and know the values and culture of Kompas. This must become their framework.

For me the news and all the contents of the newspaper are an interaction between the factual event on the field -- in society in the bureaucracy and other environments -- with our framework here. What we consider as important unavoidably connects with our character in social life.

Secondly, professional competence in all sectors -- editorial, business, and human resources. Here, we build character and personality. Because in a small community like a newspaper company if there are one or two people who are a disturbance, it will affect the whole company. Thus, character is important.

Then, our philosophy is we do care, work hard, check and recheck and control. These are elementary things, but we must keep these.

Not to mention the blessings of God, all these things have made us what we are today.

Now we have young leaders. It is the COO (who will replace me). But soon (he or she) will become the CEO. I know it is time for me to step back further.

We also have deputies for business and communication, because communication is very important -- inside and outside. We have the forum of core management representing all units, consisting of the young generation.

May all run as we hope. I have prepared for all this seriously. It is an examination, I learn from (the experience of) other newspapers which have only been able to sustain one generation.