Chinese-Language Media Is Still Finding Its Footing After a 30-Year Ban

Jakarta Globe, Emmy Fitri & Ismira Lutfia, February 12, 2010

Nine years ago Bambang Suryono rediscovered his passion for journalism when he began working for a Chinese-language newspaper, a dream he never thought he would fulfill.

The newspaper, Guo Ji Ri Bao (International Daily), is one of 10 Chinese-language papers that began publishing in the wake of former President Suharto’s resignation in 1998 and the lifting in 2000 of a ban on Chinese-language media by President Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.

But while Chinese-Indonesians make up about 3.5 percent to 4 percent of the country’s population, Bambang, the chief editor of Guo Ji Ri Bao, isn’t sure what the future holds for the paper.

“The market segment is solid and tends to increase, but we are dealing with a human resource crisis,” said Bambang, whose birth name is Lie Tho Hui. “It is not easy to find good writers. University graduates studying Mandarin speak flawlessly but they can’t write proper Mandarin.”

Young readership is picking up for the papers, but most readers are still between the ages of 60 and 70.

One of these is businessman Andi Jaya Purnama, who is in his mid-70s.

“It’s a matter of habit, and it reminds me of my youth before our Chinese schools were forcibly closed down,” he said. “I can also track my friends and relatives because these newspapers carry announcements about what families are up to.”

Guo Ri Ji Bao began publishing soon after the ban was lifted in 2000, printing about 1,000 copies. Bambang said that within two years the paper had returned its initial capital.

“Now we are publishing 70,000 copies and they are available in Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan and Pontianak,” he said.

“The kind of growth is inevitable. Indonesia is more open and Chinese investors are coming to Indonesia like a flash flood . Before 2000 there were less than 20 Chinese companies operating here and now there are hundreds of them, ranging from medium to large-scale,” Bambang said.

“The Chinese are well-known for their familial connections; they value their family ties. Big ads are coming from Chinese families. They put in huge ads when they get married and have children. Especially for condolences, big ads can last for a week.”

Advertising revenue alone is enough to cover most of the expenses of the paper, which sells for Rp 3,500 (37 cents).

Bambang has been a journalist for a little over 50 years. In his early 20s he worked for the country’s largest and oldest daily, Sin Po, which was published in Indonesian and Chinese.

The daily was banned in 1966 after a failed coup was blamed on the Communist Party, allegedly backed by China. After Suharto assumed power, broadcasting, printing and teaching in Chinese were outlawed. This ban stood for three decades, until Abdurrahman lifted it.

It has not only been political sentiment at home, however, that has hampered Chinese media in Indonesia. Batam-based radio station Era Baru received an injunction to stop broadcasting in 2008 from the Indonesian government.

The injunction was reportedly issued following pressure from the Chinese government, which alleged that the station was connected to the banned Falun Gong movement.

Gatot Machali, the station’s director, has denied the link and has pursued the case through the courts. The station is now back on the air, but not on a regular basis.

“We are competing with radio stations in Singapore and Malaysia that broadcast entirely in Mandarin,” he said.

“The prospects are good since there is a niche market that we can tap into,” Gatot said, adding that the station had overwhelmingly received a positive response from listeners.

“Our listeners have formed their own community and they are always engaging in various social activities. This is proof that our radio has a solid listener base,” he said.

Finding radio announcers who speak good Mandarin is a challenge, however, and Gatot said management had to invest in enrolling them in Mandarin language courses.

“In terms of advertising, it is going well, although we have not broken even yet,” Gatot said, adding that the radio’s listeners provided a niche market that advertisers could target.

“Advertisers can be sure that their commercials will reach the right target market,” he said.