From Unspun (
http://unspun.wordpress.com) (apparently):
Jakarta's soon-to-be-declared as English-language newspaper war has just got
more interesting with
The Jakarta Globe's appointment of Bhimanto Suwastoyo,
a 23 veteran journalist at AFP Jakarta as the paper's Deputy Chief Editor.
Bhim will pull equal weight as the other Deputy Chief Editor Joe Cochrane
(who apparently may be tying the knot soon if little birds in Face Bar are
to be believed).
By signing Bhim on,
The Jakarta Globe may finally begin to get some respect
from media observers here who were wondering whether the paper would be
stuffed with bules who may have excellent technical skills but not the
necessary the insight and perspective of an Indonesian.
Unspun's known the 52-year old Bhim for more than a decade and he must rank
as one of the mot knowledgeable, articulate and open minded journalists in
Indonesia. Bhim speaks French ad a sprinkling of European languages
frequently because he spent his younger days in Europe (then becoming an
architect before moving into journalism).
Friends close to Bhim have told Unspun that Bhim decided to pack it in at
AFP because he was tired of the the agency sending rookies to Indonesia who
think they have an instant understanding of the complexity in Indonesia and
of news editors far away with a dubious grasp of what's newsworthy coming
out of the achipelago.
They said Bhim joined
The Jakarta Globe only when he was satisfied that he
would have equal say among the newspaper's editors on the treatment and
placement of news, and also after seeking reassurances that the paper would
have editorial independence. His other motivation, say th friends, was also
a desire to see more competition among the English-language dailies in
Indonesia.
Bhim's entry into
The Jakarta Globe should send alam bells ringing in The
Jakarta Post, which has enjoyed a virtual monopoly of the English-language
daily market for most of its 25 years in existence. But chances are that it
won't because the Post is stuffed with too many old timers who have acquired
a sense of invulnerability from their many years as a monopoly.
Unspun would be very worried if he was working at the Post as the Jakarta
Globe, which is funded by James Riyadi and therefore has suspect credential,
has suddenly, with Bhim's appointment, gained some respectability. The Globe
also has the money and right now it doesn't take much for someone who knows
what they are doing to trump the Post. And in Bhim they have a veteran
journalist who knows the country inside out. Plus he can write.
There are signs that the Post is trying to fight back. In a recent move it
instituted extensive training for it new recruits and increased their
salaries, after several months of training, to Rp6.1 per month. It also
bound them to a three-year contract to prevent poaching from the likes of
the Globe and the wores services.
That's a quaint tactic to improve standards because some media analysts do
not think that the problem lies so much with entry level journalists but
with the higher ups. In change management it is always the middle layer that
is most resistant to change.
* Achmad Sudarsono, on May 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm Said:
Unspun,
Very sharp post and a decision that made me completely rethink my thoughts
on the Globe launch. Informed sources say they have a unique twinning policy
of matching many senior Bules with Indonesians.
Informed sources (I'm just a ukuele player), also say Mr. Bhimanto has an
incredible talent of transforming newbie Asia rookies into apparently
capable bureau chiefs through deft management, shrewdness and talent.
What a star.
Informed sources (just who are they, anyway), also point to an open-mind at
the Globe's editorial helm, a willingness to hear criticism, (especially
over the bar).
The big question, then, seems to be James. How much red ink will the Riady's
be willing to take in what promises to be the newspaper showdown of the
decade in Jakarta ?
* Edith Hartanto, on May 13th, 2008 at 2:56 am Said:
This is a great piece, Unspun!
I agree with you 100 percent on your last paragraph : That's a quaint tactic
to improve standards because some media analysts do not think that the
problem lies so much with entry level journalists but with the higher ups.
In change management it is always the middle layer that is most resistant to
change.
I've worked with
The Jakarta Post long enough to easily identify such
problems.
This Indonesian-English media race will be worth to watch. Some of my fellow
media junkies (and veteran journalists) even put a bet, which of this
newcomers English paper will prevail?
James Riyadi has the greenbucks,
The Jakarta Post is the longest survivor,
The Point and The Jakarta Morning?? Guess....
2.2%
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