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.

(more…)

The Community Builder

It’s been a while since the last time we had a visit for a sharing session. It was Bang Win (Abang Edwin) who accepted our invitation last Friday, 4th May 2007.

For those who are active in online communities, Bang Win may not be an unfamiliar profile at all. He is the pioneer of some of Indonesian web and mailing list based communities. Nine years have he spent setting up and moderating online communities.

But what has he to got gain from this activity? Before answering this question, let’s find out his tips to maintain such communities.

Well, as the actual community, online communities consist of people with the same interest. First of all, it isn’t hard to get people to join a group, joining a mailing list for example. But after a while, people tend to get bored. Now, this is a job for a moderator. Moderator must spend extra efforts to maintain a cheerful, lively and loyal crowd.

Experience has provided Bang Win with a conclusion that a moderator must be able to throw issues around to drive the crowds’ attention. From the very beginning, the moderator must have a plan written down – consist of timetable on topics, responses towards ‘deviant’ members, etc. 

What will you get from loyal community members is, in economic term, a captive market. “You can sell almost anything to the community members as long as it is within their interest.” For those marketers out there, interest driven communities are very segmented market. Trade can also take place among members, as has been happening in most communities.

Now, answering the above question, Bang Win has become a consultant for setting up communities. His service will include software training, planning, community managements, and all sorts of stuff related to setting up and maintenance of an online community.

Another question raised: how much is the fee?

International Labor Day Commemoration in Jakarta: “Journalist says NO to bribery, increase wage”

Hundreds of people from different organizations and labor unions joined a one-day-strike in front of presidential palace in Jakarta over wage issues. Maverick was invited by our journalist friend to capture the moment. Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (Independent Journalist Alliance) – AJI collaborated with Aliansi Buruh Menggugat enthusiastically expressed their stand- points with regard to labor issues.

Head of AJI Jakarta Jajang Jamaluddin says, “Lots of people have expressed their disappointment over Indonesian journalists’ professionalism. Some people see journalists as people who are easily bribed and give positive publicity in return”.

This is a sad phenomenon. AJI sees that the standard of salary of Indonesian journalists is very low. It’s only one-quarter of those fellow journalists’ salary in Malaysia and Thailand. “Because of the low salary, while there are so many basic needs to be fulfilled, saying NO to bribery is not an easy task”, Jajang says.

Therefore, AJI encourage the media organizations to raise the salary of their employees to avoid bribery. “Some journalists think that it’s acceptable to receive ‘envelope’ (money, red) from the news source. In fact, this has strong influence on journalist’s independency”, Coordinator of Labor Union AJI Jakarta Winuranto Adhi says.

Acccording to the survey conducted by AJI in 2006, the minimum wage for a journalist in Jakarta should be of Rp3.1 million. Of course the number should be adjustable in line with the inflation rate. “We can make it happens through solidarity, fight for it and by forming a union”, Winuranto adds.

Winuranto also mentions that there are lots of media organizations that suppressing its employees to form a labor union. The organizations/corporations are afraid that the employees might criticize the management and/or able to fight for their rights. AJI picks Bambang Wisudo case as an example. Bambang Wisudo was the secretary of Perkumpulan Karyawan Kompas (PKK) and the fact that he got sacked was very much reflected the union busting in the media. Wisudo was mutated to Ambon – while Syahnan Rangkuti (Head of PKK) was mutated to Padang – after PKK succeeded to persuade the management to give away 20% of employees’ shares devident.

On that sunny afternoon, Jajang told me and my colleague – Hanny - that AJI would keep encouraging Indonesian journalists to improve their skills, professionalism and to follow the code of ethics in journalism (see our previous post on journo’s code of ethics here).

“Say NO to bribery, increase the wage!”, he says at the end of the interview.

“They’d call me a dirty old man…”

My lazy Sunday brunch with a few friends was turned into a heated discussion over an article published on yesterday’s The Jakarta Post (29/04) titled “More sex please, we’re British”. Read the complete article here.

I have nothing against interracial/multinational marriages, but I’m personally sickened by the insensitive and ruthless comments given by Sheldon Archer as follows:

“Let’s face it; every middle-aged man has a fantasy of making it with a young girl – just ask Bill Clinton. Here in Indonesia fantasy can become fact.” You don’t take this as a compliment, really.

“I married a child.” Yuck.

“I had to become a Muslim to marry. I just mumbled a few words I didn’t understand. I’m not religious and Yuyun isn’t serious about religion.” This is what I meant by insensitive and ruthless.

And here’s a gem…

“There’s a bit of hero worship. They like white skin.” As one of my friends put it, “I’m jumping up and down with fervent-hero-worship joy.”

I’m writing an email to Srikandi, a non-profit organization in Indonesia for local women who are married – or were married – to foreigners, to ask their views about this. Will keep you posted when I hear from them.

Update 1 May: Srikandi is currently developing a written statement outlining their views about this article. They are not too happy though… A representative from Srikandi was replying to my email saying that “the article is truly degrading Indonesian women”.

In the article, Sheldon also said that people would call him “a dirty old man” back in his hometown, Sheffield. What would you call him here? But before you answer, please also visit this website to get a better sense of the sort of business he’s running.

What should controversial businesses do?

It is always a dilemma for being involved in a controversial businesses. When it seems like everyone is against you and everything you do is always wrong.

An article in Asia Times, entitled Smokes Get In Your Eyes in Indonesia, written by Duncan Graham, mentioned tobacco company as quoted below:

“… Indonesia’s tobacco company don’t like being portrayed as purveyors of poisons and killers of citizens. So they have tried to boost their image through socially responsible campaigns … Another ploy is to fund educational institutions and scholarships … (they) has also started to seduce journalists with media awards equal in most cases to six months’ salary for the average reporter …”

The question that crossed my mind instantly was: ‘What about the mining company who allocate significant amount of money to help preserved the environment?’ or ‘Are fast-food restaurants should be banned from supporting national children’s health program?’

I think as what other ‘responsible’ companies do, these controversial businesses also want to give back to the community, but people are always skeptical towards their efforts. This is where a clear guidance on what companies can and cannot do in terms of doing social activities is needed.

The government should also be consistent and clear on what controversial industries are allowed or not allowed to do, especially when it comes to promotion and marketing activities. Therefore, they can go on operating their business activities without having to worry about possible disruption.

What do you think? Any suggestions, everyone?

Busway? No waaayyy…

It supposed to be a nice comfortable public transportation that Pemprov Jakarta has promised and also be the answer for the city’s public transportations sad quality problem – but what turned out was really bad service quality provided by TransJakarta management. There were only limited busway units that should go running in service for thousand people. Republika wrote that only 10 new units are provided to serve four new corridors. The remaining units will be put into service in the following months. If that is the case, why can’t they just wait to operate ‘til the whole units are completed? hhmmm…

I experienced it myself last night in Busway Corridor 4 (Dukuh Atas). There were hundred of people flocked in the shelter bus with very minimum of air supplies for sure! When the bus came, the situation was getting even horrible; everyone tried ‘hardly’ getting in the bus by pushing one another.

Couldn’t stay longer in the situation like this, I called up my husband to pick me up instead.

On the way back home, we argued on who should be blamed for this and what sort of things can actually be done to resolve it. From my side, I think people here are not ready yet to adopt better facilities that require high level of discipline. Discipline in queuing is the most vital one and that’s precisely what our people lack of. How possible it is to enjoy a nice, comfy busway ride without even bothering to line up. Ckckckckc…people!

Am also wondering whether local govt had expressed their apology for this very unfortunate condition, which I think, is a must. At least let people know that you guys are also very much concerned and assuring them for immediate improvement at the soonest.

Welcome to flood

Once again, our five-annually guest came to Jakarta: Flood. And it still amazed me what water can do to disrupt people in Jakarta.

I remember in 2002, when there’s also a heavy flood in Jakarta, many of my colleagues must take about three or five hours to get to the office. Usually they only take about half hour or at least one and half hours to get to the office.

This time, concern about the traffic in the street (I’m kind of a bad temper in the street….), I push my self to go to the office earlier. And it means that I have to take a bath before 05:00 p.m.

Flooding disaster this year, make me more amazed what water can do. And maybe it goes the same way with the government, they too amazed to the flood situation and they almost do nothing. (well, at least to some people…err…or to majority?)

I mean, this flooding disaster came every years, and it became worse every five years, and why government seem don’t have any plan about this? I remember that in the past two years, government always busy mumbling, even yelling, about busway project.

It doesn’t mean that busway project is not important, it is important. But do they realize about rainy season five-year cycle? Do they realize that they have to choose the priority for public?

That one thing, the other thing is:

I saw Bang Yos at the talkshow in Metro TV few days ago, sometimes in weekend if I’m not mistaken, he interviewed about flood disaster in Jakarta. One question from Metro TV announcer’s that still banging in my head is: “What government anticipation about flooding disaster this year?”

And Bang Yos answered: “Well, we distributed survival-boat more quickly, and develop more posko banjir, and distributed other survival-logistic faster….”

…..

I thought ‘anticipation’ is some kind actions BEFORE something happen, not DURING the situation.

Well Bang Yos, maybe you need our juicy and fruitful Media Training Session.

note: photo was taken from corbis with keyword: flood in Jakarta.

The Highlander: Not for eternity

Have you ever been to The Highlander pub at the Grand Kemang Hotel?
I’m not a regular customer myself. I went there once to enquire prices for a private party. And since then, they included my email in their promotion mailing list. No probs… at least until yesterday, when I unexpectedly received this rather ‘abnormal’ message…

——————–
To whom it might concerned

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I wrote you this e-mail in regards to letting all the highlander costumers know that all of you being fraud by The highlander scottish pub and restaurant.

Recently they just put the beer price up, without further notice from the restaurant management. The steak measurement is way bellow standards, they serve only 80 gr of steak instead of 200 gr, they put a lot of vegetable instead of meat inside their pies.

They put 21% of service but they are only paying the hotel management 17,5%, they never pay tax, they paid all of their staff under goverment standards of payment, they didn’t provide the staff with medical insurance, they let one of their kitchen staff died becasuse of the air circulation in the kitchen area is bad, the gas in the kitchen always leaking, etc

PLEASE IF YOU TOLARATE THIS IT MEANS YOU ARE SUPPORTING LOOSE CRIMINALS,…STOP COMING TO THE HIGHLANDER, AND SHOW THAT YOU CARE
——————–

The person who sent this email to me (and to 45 other recipients) is definitely disgruntled. Anybody out there knows what had happened to this Scottish-themed pub?