JP/20/GUESS

JP/20/GUESS

Rosihan calls for more "chatty" journalism

JAKARTA: Veteran journalist Rosihan Anwar has hailed a new
trend in journalistic reporting, advising younger generation
journalists to write more in a "chatty" style.

"Reporters, men or women, don't seem to have the ability to
write in a narrative manner," said Rosihan, who is also renown as
an avid writer, educator, artist and historian.

He is campaigning for a new style in modern journalism, where
writers make their reports in a narrative, or "story-telling",
way. The concept is in contrast with the classical "reverse
pyramid" style of news reporting, where the most important
information is conveyed in the lead paragraphs, and less
important information in later paragraphs.

Rosihan was speaking on the sidelines of a book launching on
Wednesday at the Wisma Bimasena in the Dharmawangsa Hotel in
South Jakarta.

Senior journalist Herawati Diah launched the English version
of her biography An Endless Journey. Diah, who turns 88 this
April, was one of the founders of the now-defunct English-
language newspaper, Indonesian Observer.

"Ibu Diah uses a conventional approach in most of her
writings, and she writes well and in a chatty way," said Rosihan.
"I'm a man, I wouldn't do that."

Mark Hanusz of Equinox publishing said that it was important
that Ibu Diah's story be documented. "I'm really excited about
publishing it because foreigners can learn a lot through one
person's view of Indonesian history." --JP