Local ‘WikiLeaks’ to escape big media censorship

ANITA RACHMAN

Seeking a media outlet free of the chains of corporate ownership, a group of journalists is planning to develop a Web site that will carry stories conventional news organizations dare not touch.

Wahyu Dhyatmika, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), said he hoped the site could provide an alternative outlet for journalists to post sensitive documents or evidence deemed too “dangerous” to be published in their own media.

“In short, it would be similar to WikiLeaks,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday, referring to the Sweden-based organization that publishes sensitive material and protects the anonymity of its sources. “We hope that in the future, all Indonesian journalists can engage and really benefit from this Web site and that will eventually strengthen our independent journalism.”

The Web site, which AJI Jakarta plans to launch in early August to coincide with its anniversary, is supported by the group’s chapters in Denpasar, Semarang, Surabaya, Malang and Pekanbaru.

Wahyu and 17 other AJI members recently completed a three-week course at the Radio Netherlands Training Center on how new media can support independent journalism.

He said that although Indonesia’s media had enjoyed 12 years of relative freedom since President Suharto stepped down on May 21, 1998, it did not mean that the threat was gone.

AJI Jakarta sees editorial interference by media owners as the new threat to press freedom. In a discussion the group organized in March, media analyst Ignatius Haryanto said “media conglomerate owners have become a threat because they now exercise the control that the government had in the old days.”

Potential threat to independent journalism?/Anton Muhajir

The media industry grew exponentially after 1998 when the government gave up its tight control through press permits and content reviews. There are now more than 2,000 radio stations, 1,000 print publications (magazines, tabloids and newspapers), 115 television stations and a growing number of online news portals. However, about 10 prominent business groups control the majority.

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New York, New York!

/bersemangat!

THE CLOCK!

New York, New York!

An editor in my office once told me, “put New York in a frame and don’t forget to take a look at it everyday, and less than a year you’ll get there! It worked for me.”

Do you believe in the magic of dreams? I DO. I am glad that I EVENTUALLY do!

Some say that by dreaming it you’re actually halfway there! So, when I saw a clock with “NEW YORK” printed on it in De Kring Loper (a used goods store), in Naarden Bussum, Holland, this morning, I bought it right away.

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Big Brother & my views on independent journalism

/a bit late post!

Hey ya, it’s a bit late post, because I DID celebrate the World Press Freedom Day in Amsterdam on May 3, 2010, yeah like two weeks ago? It was amazing! I think journalists around the world (well, most of them) are actually having one similar question: is the press under pressure?

To “listen” to my views and @WahyuDhyatmika’s about press freedom in Indonesia, you can click here, it’s our Radio Nederland’s interview (yes, you can hear my voice )

/my article

Being open and telling people what we think is right is not easy sometimes. Especially when you are a journalist. I remember once, there was a prominent journalist telling me to erase an update I posted on my Facebook account that “seemed to besmirch one of presidential candidates, and thus it makes you sound bias.” Avoiding further conflicts and a never- ending debate, I deleted my status update.

That small incident makes me start to wonder, whether new media can really give alternatives in the communication issues, including journalism and its independency. From then on, I  have this little skepticism inside me.

Journalists today basically do not need a big company to print their fact-based stories. The great inventions of computer and internet will help them spread the words to the world, in a faster and cheaper way. In a certain personally-managed website, journalists can post any news they have.

But, one question lingers on my mind. In a country such as Indonesia, when the government (although they seem to be very democratic) tries to put some control, including the media through their regulations and laws, could journalists actually publish any fact-based stories they have without risking themselves of losing jobs or be put behind bars?

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Five days prior “365 Days without Shopping”

/sighing

One of my biggest resolutions this year (after celebrating my 27th birthday to be exact) is to really STOP shopping for 365 days, yep, a total year! No, I am not crazy or being impossible.

Although I should say, just like you, some of my friends think that this notion is simply too ambitious — recalling my records on how I couldn’t control my desires to shop and shop and shop till drop. Some even commenting that I should not have treated myself too hard on this.

I listened to and thanked them so much for their supports however, I have another idea on how this resolution of mine will be accomplished. I have a confidence that I will not shop for 360 and 5 days! Honestly, I am tired of spending half of my salary every month just three days after I actually receive it (yeah, for real!).

So, after reading Reh Atemalem’s blog about her diet, which is very very inspiring (were you inspired by Julie and Julia Re?), I decided to make the same blog. Of course, not about diet, but about “shopping diet.”

I have promised myself that I will start my shopping diet when I get back home, next Monday. At the moment I am still in the Netherlands, and I should admit that it is very very hard to not shop once you hit Amsterdam the last two stuff I bought from H & M were: a beach hat and a beach wear I bought them last week for a good deal: like… 8 euro for each? CHEAPY right?! *see the pic on the left side!

But well… if I should list stuff I have bought during my three-weeks visit to the Netherlands (now is the last week and am planning to shop again this Saturday), I am afraid I have spent too much?

I have bought Van Gogh’s The Bedroom (replica), Van Gogh’s book and pen from the Museum, Rembrandt’s bag, ethnic bag, two leather bags (brown and black), a cute grey bag (wait are they FIVE bags already? F!), two sweaters, one trousers, one skirt, a cute fedora hat, two orange hats for the Queen’s Day (damn! why did I buy two of them?!), headband, a coat and… I dunno what else? A book from Louvre and many many postcards of course (for myself).

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Queen’s Day and a question on happiness

/first blog from Holland

I hate to be labeled as a conservative, because I don’t think I am one. However, you might find this piece of my mind a bit conservative (or lack of understanding from an Eastern?), but it just something lingers on my mind since two weeks ago, when I witnessed one of the biggest national celebrations in the Netherlands, Koninginnedag or the Queen’s Day.

Queen's Night, Utrecht. Time to party/I.D. Nugroho

The celebration of the national holiday was a total fun, especially with the vrijmarkt or freemarket where I bought some 25 classical music compact discs for only four Euro. It was a good deal, a super one, and I was so happy to witness the festival!

I went to Amsterdam on Friday morning, 30 April, and the night before for the Queen’s Night I traveled to Utrecht. Both parties were fun, but I kept noticing this one thing that keeps me wondering, even until today: getting VERY drunk is a rule to celebrate Queen’s Day (at least people I saw in Amsterdam and Utrecht).

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