JP/7/JAKOB

JP/7/JAKOB

Part 1 of 2

Powering the Media Dynamics

Jakob Oetama
Jakarta

The theme of this Asia Pacific Media Forum is Powering the
Media Dynamics. Media dynamics is a phenomenon that has become
increasingly "globalized, simultaneous and interactive" in this
21st century.

Together we have witnessed and experienced it. The moment the
earthquake-generated tsunamis struck Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India,
Thailand and Malaysia on Dec. 26, 2004, media across the world
reported this massive natural disaster simultaneously. Just as
experts and practitioners illustrated, reports on the horrifying
disaster "were globalized, instantaneous and interactive."

Mass media -- television stations, the Internet, radio
stations and the print media -- the world over reported this
calamity around the clock. One could see the vast waves explode
as high as 30 meters high at a speed of 400 to 500 kilometers per
hour, wreaking havoc and destroying all buildings, trees, roads,
bridges, houses and people's lives.

Apart from being broadcast instantaneously all over the world,
media reports about the terrifying earthquake and tsunami were
also interactive. The intensity of this interactiveness,
communication and dialog was so widespread and intensive that it
created humanitarian solidarity all over the world. All over the
globe, states and their general public as well as their
governments came together to offer humanitarian relief.

From the coverage and impact of the global and simultaneous
coverage we witnessed the performance of the media at its best in
the way it generated such solidarity. Differences -- for example
in communication, and even political, economic and ideological
disputes -- vanished or were pushed aside. The most noble traits
came to the fore, such as understanding, solidarity and mutual
assistance.

A disaster of this magnitude, which often arouses awareness
and understanding about the common destiny of mankind, created
such momentum. Humans, wise men or citizens of the world wherever
they were, could utilize such signal-laden momentum.

When we, as observers and practitioners of the mass media from
Asia and the Pacific, meet again to discuss mass media problems,
it would only be proper that we make the media coverage of the
devastating earthquake and tsunami our reference. A reference
about what the media is capable of doing, and about making it our
duty to make use, every time, of the momentum of events and
problems so as to be in the forefront in our work for the well-
being of mankind.

Information technology continues to prompt the emergence of
new waves and presents a new medium. At first it was the print
media, then radio and then film. Television followed much later,
and within a relatively short period of time various forms of
digitalized media, like the Internet, have sprung up.

The electronic media, especially digitalized media, emerged
much later, but its impact and influence have been phenomenal.
This form of media is instantaneous because technologically its
dissemination is easy and its audience huge. This is especially
true in Indonesia, where reading habits remain poor.

The print media, daily newspapers and magazines have therefore
had to deal with a serious competitor in luring readers and
keeping their attention and in arousing an interest in reading.
It is understandable that what can be watched is more attractive
than that which can only be read. Watching is more simple than
reading in terms of effort and intellectual process. Besides, the
emergence of this media -- like it or not -- that can be viewed
is associated with an open stage. The habit to view traditional
media usually has more entertainment value. Therefore, visual
media tends to present anything related to entertainment.

Viewing something, which, and in the context of this
conference, refers to watching television and various forms of
other digitalized media, is, by some observers, said to have the
tendency of being "conversational, friendly, emotional and not
too demanding". Reading, meanwhile, requires concentration, an
active stance and distance. By contrast, when you view something,
you are passive and can be carried away by what you see.

Indonesia's experiences in various things are not much
different from those of other developing nations. When a
democratic system and the freedom of the press and information
prevail, publishing a newspaper or a magazine no longer requires
a permit. There are no restrictions. Therefore the number of
publications can be vast. While previously Indonesia had only 289
dailies, we now have 1,600. Although the number of media
publications has grown many fold, circulation sizes do not match
the growth but increase very slowly. Print media readership is
left far behind compared with the number of TV viewers and radio
listeners.

Several articles claim that everything entertaining,
particularly something popular in nature and sometimes considered
vulgar, does not have their origins in the all-entertaining
aspects of the print media known as tabloids. Tabloids, which
were first introduced in the U.S. and Great Britain, have a vast
circulation.

Tabloids contain the frivolities of life, light news, popular
political stories and stories about life, especially as seen from
the angles of crime and sex. The contents relate to daily life
and strong criticism. However, there is also a positive view
stating that through tabloids, the print media can have their
mass print run and at the same time create a popular public stage
of which many community members will very fond.

Once again, it is stated, that when the pattern of a tabloid
obtained a new stage, namely electronic media and later
digitalized media like television, followed later by the Internet
and other interactive media, information and coverage associated
with entertainment became abundant. It is still information, but
information that has a strong element of entertainment and is
packaged in the context of entertainment with a stronger
attraction.

We in Indonesia find ourselves in this phase. Electronic
media, radio, television, the Internet and others now enjoy new
momentum: freedom and revolution in the era of information
technology. Earlier, the development of IT and media in advanced
industrialized nations gave rise to and spread globalization.

And it is true that we in Indonesia and the countries in Asia
and the Pacific as well as all other countries in the world find
ourselves in this globalized environment. Like it or not, resist
it or try to critically and constructively respond to it, this is
our new environment.

The writer is Chairman, CEO of Kompas Gramedia.