Living the Legacy of the Pioneers

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

In the midst of the co-19 epidemic, Ade (56) was still keen to peddle Kompas newspaper. Every morning until noon at the intersection Gaplek, South Tangerang, Banten, as seen on Friday (3/27/2020).

Ahead of the commemoration of its 55th anniversary, the Kompas daily can be described by the proverb sudah jatuh tertimpa tangga (Fallen and struck down by a ladder).

The number of pages is small, at an average of 16. The adverts -- the heart of the media – are small, and not in color either. The number of customers may decline. Four months before 28 June 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic struck Kompas.

A few years earlier, in line with economic growth, the number of pages was significant. Sometimes it was 60 pages, once it even reached 100. Before 1998, the number of pages was limited to a maximum of 16. Any more than that required permission from the Information Ministry. Ads were pegged at a maximum of 30 percent of the number of pages. Potential advertisers had to stand in line. In terms of circulation, Kompas was also at the top. Primus inter pares.

Read also: Jakob’s Well

After the repressive regime collapsed, display-sized and colored ads appeared more frequently. There was no more page restriction and ad settings. So, Kompas set a minimum of 16 pages to publish, the rest depended on advertisements.

The business department was as active as the editorial department. The business department was hunting advertisers and customers, the editorial one was hunting news and content. That was thanks to the breeze of freedom of the press after 1998. There were no more bans, no more restrictions on the number of pages or the ratio of advertisement and content, no more SIUPP (press publication permit) requirements. This condition was enjoyed after more than 30 years of press freedom being shackled for the sake of power for the authorities.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Jakob Oetama

In addition to political, social and cultural changes in the media, reforms that led to the collapse of the New Order\'s power were followed by internal changes in the media industry in the synergistic relationship between the editorial and the business side. Working together, they complemented each other in a symbiosis. Jakob Oetama said that the editorial unit was the most important but that the identity of the media work was cooperation.

Print, broadcast and digital mass media is, then, seen by the business world as a lucrative field. Generating profit is the primary motivation for entering this area, not the struggle for democracy like the emergence of mass media in Indonesia. The business world that has no media background is fighting over the cakes.

Newspapers that were born as political pamphlets turned into a business field like retail or shoemaking. Kompas with the huge number of pages, customers and advertisement, was sought after because the content was trustworthy and credible, and the paper became a role model and reference point for policy makers and the business world. Kompas, whose birth was based on good intentions and a passion for educating the public, was recognized as Primus Inter Pares, superior to all media companies.

Change: media identity

In the early 2000s, the battle among print, electronic and digital media was tight. The development of science and technology, especially information technology, changed the way people obtain information. Speed became the key factor, to the extent that the mass media now provide affirmation rather than verification. Journalists no longer monopolize information; each person can report any event from his own perspective. Citizen journalism is often misused to spread hoaxes, lies. The dynamics of society are then greatly influenced by the development of digital communication, mainly in the form of social media.

Taking a position in the middle made Kompas a soccer ball, criticized here and there: no longer critical, no longer a watchdog, caving in to the interests of power and putting business interests first. Kompas has been criticized for denying the classic expression of journalism: "entertaining the poor, reminding the established".

In accordance with its modest and humble character, Kompas is open to such criticism. Criticism even encourages Kompas to improve and make adjustments. The criticisms is seen as representing a sense of belonging and a sense of ngeman (caring).

Kompas has made various breakthroughs – something that has been built in -- in the way of writing, layout arrangement and illustration. Mass media companies are competing almost helplessly in a field marked by very fast change, inevitably catching the community by surprise. Its desire to be a partner and community educator requires Kompas to become a constantly changing entity. Today must be better than yesterday.

In terms of the changes of the format of the newspaper, the invitation of Roger Black in the 1990s and Mario Garcia in the 2000s was part of Kompas\' serious effort to provide the best for its readers, advertisers and customers. Wider changes in format and appearance are deemed an integral part of Kompas’ messages.

Moderation is not only in the soul and spirit of the media, but also in the writing, format and layout. As Jakob Oetama often said, in addition to information, Kompas also wants to help its readers get enlightened, as one of the goals of humanism.

Respecting humans and humanity is one form of humanistic enlightenment, which by itself affirms pluralism, an important aspect of democratic life.

“Entertaining the poor…”

On 28 June 1965, the first day, Kompas appeared with four pages. In the days leading up to 28 June 2020, Kompas appeared with 16 pages. At the age of 55 years, Kompas can be considered young compared some newspapers in Europe and America but is already old for newspapers in Indonesia. Dozens of newspapers published before Kompas are now almost all "deceased". Any media company, in this case the Kompas daily, works based on a vision originating from the pioneers and founders, Petrus Kanisius Ojong (1920-1980) and Jakob Oetama. The vision is a soul, a spirit that is the breath of the media at work. Amanat Hati Nurani Rakyat, Kompas\' motto which is translated in transcendental guidelines of humanism, is revealed in the formulation and practical guidance.

This expression comes from Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), an American journalist best known for his column in the Chicago Evening Post.

The adage menghibur yang papa, mengingatkan yang mapan is translated based on the classic expression of journalism to “comforts th \'afflicted, afflicts th\' comfortable”. This expression comes from Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), an American journalist best known for his column in the Chicago Evening Post.

Jakob Oetama adopted Peter Dunne\'s remarks as an editorial policy. Jakob Oetama feels like a journalist, who is gumunan (full of curiosity), easily fascinated and anxious – the ideal characteristics of reporters, as he always emphasizes when speaking to his reporters.

Besides Peter Dunne, he introduced many other policies, such as le journal c\'est un monsieur (the newspaper is like a master or figure), an expression he picks up from the jumble of dictions, terms, imagery that he gives meaning to in Kompas\' journalistic concept, namely compassion.

Kompas was born with the ideal of helping develop Indonesia in a small scope, part of the big ideals of Indonesia on the basis of the common humanity in heterogeneity. Kompas is a "mini Indonesia", the vocabulary which is found later. Kompas promotes unity among fellow human beings instead of division by differences.

Transcendental humanism is a working guide. In the 1990s, Jakob often turned it into a humanity with faith. The characteristics are the same. The vision and spirit remain, its translations and representations change, in line with the conditions and changes of the time.

The moderation adopted from the beginning, with the formulation of fortiter in re suaviter in modo (firm in substance and meek in manner), is based on the humanistic tradition of the pioneers. This moderation on the one hand reflects an intelligent attitude, on the other hand it can be interpreted as inconsistent, even as cowardly.

The experience of being banned, from 21 January-5 February 1978 – is one of the milestones in the journey of Kompas -- emphasizes that moderation brings blessings. Jakob Oetama chose to sign the requirement to publish again. According to him, a corpse can only be remembered but cannot fight. Then Jakob Oetama often said, "things must change".

Responding to the requirements of the ruling regime at the time, there were indeed differences with PK Ojong. Ojong who was more senior in terms of journalism – and experienced in being banned with the two media he had led, Keng Po and Star Weekly -- disagreed. He said, "Jakob, don\'t apologize; dying today, later or next year is the same."

This moderation, later, helped Kompas pursue the scum or wot-agal agil (unstable bridge) under the government of that era. In international media meetings, Jakob was named "A Living Hero".

The event 42 years ago became a trigger for Kompas to increasingly live the moderation. The moderation does not mean finding a safe, moderate position, but an enlightenment in the history of the 55 years of Kompas for the sake of democratization (in the making), the spirit of transcendental humanism (a humanity with faith).

Putting the greatest value on humans and humanity makes Kompas a promotio iustitiae (advocate of justice).

That moderation translates into dealing with various events and problems, including tolerance. However bad humans are, there must be a good side to them. There are no angels in the world. Putting the greatest value on humans and humanity makes Kompas a promotio iustitiae (advocate of justice).

The moderation makes Kompas polite in its journalistic pursuits. There are those who appreciate that, but there are others who say it does not dare to be frank, there is even an impression "to read the implied not the explicit".

Living the 55 years of Kompas, 40 years in the inner circle, I acknowledge the intelligence of the pioneers and successors to keep on fighting, responding to conditions that are bright and "dimly lit".

The declining role of print media has kept Kompas struggling for the sake of humanity, tolerance and respect for human beings. For 55 years, Kompas has been a witness of history and has contributed to the nation\'s democracy in the making.

In the "dim" condition of the print media today, the presence of Jakob Oetama, 88, undoubtedly nourishes the historicity of human dignity. As a witness of the history of the nation, he gives hope for the "dim" to become brightly lit.

St Sularto, Journalist of Kompas 1977-2017, Deputy General Leader of Kompas 2001-2014