'Tempo' launches English version

JAKARTA (JP): The English version of Tempo weekly magazine hit newsstands on Tuesday with the first edition cover story headlined "Massacre in Atambua: The Ugly Militias".

With a 10,000 copy print run and priced at Rp 15,300, the English edition is part of the magazine's effort to make local Indonesian content accessible to English-speaking readers in Asia, editor-in-chief Bambang Harymurti said at a media briefing prior to the magazine's grand launching at the Kempinski Hotel here.

Attendees of the launching included (photo from left to right)former foreign minister Ali Alatas, general manager of Tempo Fikri Jufri and Bambang.

The weekly will be distributed in Asian and other countries, such as Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hongkong, and Australia.

Bambang said the magazine is expected to reach a print run of 20,000 copies within the next few months.

"The next step is that we will hire English-speaking Indonesian journalists to write about certain issues that match our readers' needs. We also hope to enter into joint ventures with established dailies in Southeast Asia," he said.

The magazine employs 16 translators who live in a number of other cities besides Jakarta, including Surakarta, Sydney and New York. (edt)