Two dailies hit the presses

PEKANBARU, Riau: Two new provincial newspapers are set to be launched here soon after their publishing licenses were recently approved by the Ministry of Information.

Sijori and Utusan are expected to join the ranks of the four dailies already in circulation in the province by the commemoration of independence on Aug. 17.

Sijori will be based on Batam island and Utusan in Pekanbaru.

Hardijanto, head of the local information office here, was quoted yesterday by Antara as saying the province's five million inhabitants needed quality media to help disseminate much needed information.

Separately, Sutrianto, one of Utusan's founders, said the paper would feature crime stories.

Meanwhile, the general manager of Sijori, Mafiron, said his paper would focus on economic-oriented stories since its initial circulation would be in the Batam area, known as a commercial hub.