The 'Post' turns 19

The Jakarta Post marks its 19th year of continuous publication today, with no pomp or fanfare and, no doubt, the anniversary will almost go unnoticed by the public it strives to serve. Yet, in the 19 years since its first appearance on April 25, 1983, major developments have transpired and changes taken place, the importance of which this newspaper has striven to convey to the public, both in news reports and commentaries, as well as conditions and circumstances will allow.

Within the context of informing and enlightening the public through news, news analyses and constructive debate, all the staff and management of The Jakarta Post can honestly pledge to its readers that this newspaper will always strive to be true to its initial commitment to what Walter Williams, of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, so aptly termed the "journalism of humanity", which encompasses such universal values as freedom, justice and human dignity.

Not so long ago, a debate was held by a forum of editors of Jakarta's mainstream media on what the role of the media should be in such snarled-up conditions as exist in this country at present. Should the media be content with merely being recorders of history, or should it do more? After some debate, the conclusion accepted by the meeting was that the media owed it to the public to share the burden of responsibility for either the success or failure of democratic reform with other sectors of society. Within the limits of its ethical and professional standards the media should contribute to building democracy in this country. This is what this newspaper has committed itself to do.

In our present condition of uncertainty caused by the prolonged economic, social and political crisis, meanwhile, change appears to be taking place more quickly all around us, giving rise to both concern and opportunity, which we feel the public should accurately be informed about. It is for this reason that the Post is now striving to reengineer the newspaper to make it ready for a future in which a more enlightened press is clearly needed -- one that is better equipped to impart meaning to the accelerated pace of development.

Internally, this means, among other things, retraining, reorganizing and restructuring the newspaper and its staff to make it more adept at informing the public, as objectively and as accurately as possible, of what is really going on in this country and the world. One of the byproducts of these efforts and certainly the most visible to the public -- although not necessarily the most substantial one -- is the redesigning of the newspaper's appearance, with which readers have now been familiar for some time.

Obviously, however, reengineering a newspaper is an ongoing process and, in the case of Indonesia, one that is being complicated by the fact that in the past four years since the reform process was set in motion, the shift from authoritarian rule to democracy has not been moving in the desired direction. At the same time, with access available to all kinds of information, brought by an increasingly sophisticated media, the public should have access to the information it really needs in order for it to develop into a true civil society. As things are at present, the public is being inundated by a flood of media information. However, the information that is capable of imparting relevant meaning to the nation remains inadequate.

Under such circumstances, what we at the Post need most of all is feedback from the public, both to help us pass through this period of transition toward democracy and to encourage the public to expand the ongoing public debate on current issues. In our current state of growing public apathy, debate is certainly needed more than ever. If we reject debate, we must not blame others if the nation should fail in its current drive for reform. That is why the Post wishes to contribute to the attempt to encourage a public debate that is both free and constructive.

In conclusion, we would like to thank all our readers for the support that they have given us over the years. Their support has certainly helped us move forward on the long and rocky path toward becoming a mature newspaper and, hopefully, toward the attainment of democracy in the not-too-distant future.

Of course, over those years too, we have made many mistakes, sailing, as it were, in uncharted waters. We sincerely apologize for those mistakes with the promise that we intend to do all that is possible within our limited means to prevent them from recurring in the future. The Post has been able to survive through thick and thin throughout these past 19 years due to the support of its readers. We thank you for your trust, with an assurance that we will never take that trust for granted.