More journalists of `Tempo' join Bob Hasan

More journalists of `Tempo' join Bob Hasan

JAKARTA (JP): More and more former journalists of the defunct
Tempo news weekly are joining timber baron Mohammad (Bob) Hasan
to establish a new magazine as it now looks certain that he will
be given a publishing license.

Ed Zoelverdi, a former Tempo editorial staff member who is
coordinating Bob Hasan's new magazine called Gatra, told a press
conference yesterday that he was almost certain the publishing
license would be issued by the Ministry of Information.

"It is supposed to be signed today," Zoelverdi said at the
conference held at the Pulau Dua restaurant. "Suppose we have the
license this week, we will start our trial copies in October and
the first number will be launched in November."

He explained that a total of 167 people, including some 30
journalists, have decided to join him.

Bob Hasan has established a company PT Era Media Informasi
(EMI) specifically to tap the huge and professional resources,
including the journalists, of Tempo who were displaced when the
government revoked its publishing license last June.

Many of the journalists were reluctant to join at first
because of concerns that they would not enjoy the editorial
independence they enjoyed in Tempo.

The diehard journalists instead decided to try to establish
their own magazine, to be called Opini, which they would finance
with the proceeds from the 20 percent equity belonging to the
foundation of Tempo magazine employees.

The journalists representing Opini yesterday said they have
improved their application for a license to conform with the
suggestions of the Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI).
These changes include naming Putu Setia as the chief editor
instead of Yusril Djalinus as originally proposed because the
latter is not a full PWI member.

Last month, when EMI gave out forms to all former Tempo
employees, only 142 people agreed to join. Of these, there were
only 22 journalists.

Still open

Zoelverdi said more and more are joining. "The door is still
open for those who want to join us," he said.

He denied that his group was submissive to the government and
assured the editorial independence of the new magazine.

Bob Hasan earlier stated that he had no intention of dictating
the editorial content of the magazine but will take action if the
magazine's articles threaten national interests.

Zoelverdi said several names were proposed for the new weekly,
including Gatra, but he said he was not sure what name would be
chosen. Originally it was to be called Masa.

The general manager of the new weekly will be Lukman Setiawan,
who also manages the Bisnis Indonesia daily and was director of
PT Grafiti Pers, the company which published Tempo.

Herry Komar and Mahtum have been appointed as the editor in
chief and the business manager, Zoelverdi said.

The location of the new office has yet to be decided, but the
group will still be in their old office in the Tempo building on
Jl. HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, until Oct. 15, Zoelverdi said.

He said that 25 percent of the shares of PT EMI will be in the
hands of the employees and journalists. (sim)