Maverick Indonesia

Are You Young Enough?

A dear friend told Maverick about this: an opportunity for youth journalists to cover the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, August 3-8.

“Since Maverick kids know many journalists, probably you can pass on this news to them,” she said.

So, here it is

The Mexico YouthForce is looking for energetic and dedicated Youth Journalists to cover the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City August 3-8. Through writing, blogging, podcasting, photography and video, this team of Youth Journalists will bring youth issues to the forefront of the conference agenda and offer a youth perspective on the important events, announcements and presentations through their reporting.

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Welcome to the world!

Congratulations to Asep Ginanjar (from Soccer tabloid) and his wife Riska, for their newborn baby girl, Sekar Gianna Imtinan (meaning a flowery gift from God). Just take a peek at this precious moment: the proud father and his cute tiny ‘flower’. It says everything you need to know!

Pak Menteri: “Dijawil saja…”

Whether you agree with the Indonesian Government’s actions in the Web, or not, you have to give it to Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh.

Last week he was sitting on a couple of potentially explosive issues: the Government’s decision to block YouTube and other social networks because of the Dutch film on Islam called Fitna, and the passage of the Electronic Transaction Law UU ITE).

On a more minor scale, but perhaps more emotional because it is closer to the heart, was the fact that Bloggers were unhappy about Roy Suryo, the President’s technology advisor who has been responsible of a string of comments that bloggers felt were misleading and harmful to the image of bloggers in Indonesia.

So on Monday he called for a dialogue session with some of the more well-known and active bloggers in the country. (more…)

Why do you blog?

If you have a personal blog, but you do not know for sure why you blog in the first place, that’s forgiven. But as a corporation, you need to answer this question before you wade into the blogosphere. You need to be clear whether you want to better communicate with your customers, to market your product/services, to become an opinion leader in your industry or for some other purpose.

When you set up a corporate blog, you have to be aware that the blog will represent your company–as well as your company’s reputation. Thus, ideally, a corporate blog should reflect or portray the characteristics of the company you’re working at. Is it fun? Is it conservative? Cool or elegant? Open or closed?

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An Email from Singapore About PR and Blogging

Today, we have just received an interesting email about our blog from a Singaporean student, Yun Ying Sim:

Hi!
Thank you for your prompt reply!
I’m actually a student from Singapore and I see that you guys are a cool group of people. It is indeed very cool to see a PR firms blogging! It’s like blogging and PR is such a sensitive topic after the whole walmart-edelman incident. PR firms in Singapore are still quite apprehensive towards using Blogging as a PR tool.
Is it like that in Indonesia? Are clients open to using blogging as a form of PR?
Cheers!

Thanks, for thinking we’re cool Ying Sim!

Yes, we are aware that some PR firms and companies are sensitive about blogging.

But, as our name suggests, we are mavericks and why we blog is because we’re that type of company that is open, eager to engage people, clients, journalists and anyone else interested in public relations, Indonesia and communications in general.

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Toyota Luncheon

 

Apparently, companies in Indonesia have started to discover the potential of the blogosphere. Last Wednesday afternoon (20-Feb-08), several prominent bloggers including Ndoro Kakung, Paman Tyo, Unspun, and Media Ide Bajing Loncat were invited to a blogger’s luncheon by Toyota. During the luncheon, Achmad Rizal, Dept. Head of Communication Dept. of Toyota Astra Motor revealed their plan to launch the new Corolla Altis by February 28, 2008. (more…)

Is CAKRAM having a tough start in 2008?

We have just heard the news that CAKRAM magazine has just laid-off five of its employees last Friday (01/25), including two of its editors.

Surprisingly, the management did not inform these employees about the layoff beforehand—and only told them about the decision on Friday without prior notice.

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Lativi’s New Name

Some of you might have heard the rumors that Lativi will soon change its name into TVOne. Talks on the issue have already started in a number of mailing lists and community blogs even as news about TVOne looking for presenters is circulating.

“It’s true,” said Karni Ilyas, former News, Sport, and Corporate Communications director of ANTV, last Friday. When we met over dinner at a Chinese restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel, Pak Karni handed us his new business card, which read “TVOne News & Sport Director. “Lativi has even started to air more sport programs prior to the launching.”

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