Paper price rise too much

Paper price rise too much

From Media Indonesia

The increase in the price rice of newsprint has triggered an increase in the price of newspapers. The retail price of Media Indonesia has risen from Rp 500 to Rp 700 -- an increase of about 40 percent. The price other newspapers like Kompas has also gone up by the same percentage. This price increase is not reasonable. It doesn't follow the law of supply and demand. There must be one factor which has caused the fantastic increase.

The price increase of newspapers doesn't seem to have too great an influence on society's demand in the cities. But it is a great blow to the rural population. The program of "newspapers for the rural areas" will certainly be hampered by the increase in the price of newspapers. Thus the government's efforts to enhance the intellectual life of rural people will face a big challenge.

To demand a lower price is wishful thinking. It would be a very long process to get the price of newspapers to their previous level. The people may be tired of hoping and just take the price increase for granted or adopt a couldn't-care-less attitude.

Newspapers are a vital source of information for the people. Regardless of the price increase, the public must continue to receive information. If the rural people fail to get the newspapers, they have to rely on radio and television for information. As a result there will be a big gap between information received in the cities and that obtained in the country.

ABUBAKAR

Jakarta