Suara Karya
Encyclopedia
Suara Karya is a daily newspaper published in Indonesia
. Established in 1971 to assist Golkar
in winning that year's legislative election
, it became required reading for all civil servants and the voice of Golkar. After its circulation increased from 55,700 in 1971 to 300,000 in 1998, the fall of Suharto caused circulation to plummet to 3,000. , it is attempting rebranding to present cleaner, less biased news.
(Party of the Functional Groups), prior to the July legislative election
to assist Golkar. It took three days of preparation and Rp 50 million (at the time US$ 130,000) in start-up costs for the newspaper to be established. Its chief executive was Sumiskun, and the head editor was Jamal Ali. Other members of the editorial staff included Syamsul Bisri, Rahman Tolleng, Sayuti Melik, David Natipulu, and Cosmas Batubara.
For the first edition, 25,000 four-page copies were printed and sold at Rp. 10 each. A quarter of the front page was dedicated to a congratulatory note from President Suharto, while the main story was "Presiden Jawab Pertanyaan-pertanyaan Sekitar Supersemar" ("President Answers Questions regarding Supersemar"), which covered Suharto's explanation of Supersemar
and offered support for it. It also provided the paper's mission statement, which has been described as being "explicit that Suara Karya wanted to be a partisan paper".
Suara Karya influence resulted in Golkar winning their first election and securing their political power. The newspaper afterwards became required reading for all government employees. It soon came into direct competition with Kompas
, which became its biggest competitor.
With the support of Golkar, circulation expanded rapidly. By 1972, Suara Karya was selling 57,400 copies a day, 90.6% to the general public. During the succeeding years circulation varied, sometimes rising, sometimes falling drastically. By 1987, circulation had reached 124,079. At that time, Suara Karya employed 81 reporters, giving a ratio of one reporter for every 1,500 copies sold. It reached a circulation of 300,000 by 1998 and was considered the voice of Golkar Most of the subscribers were civil servants, who were required to do so by Golkar.
In 1983, together with Kompas
, Suara Pembaruan
, and Tempo, Suara Karya founded the Jakarta Post. In 1994, Suara Karya was estimated to own a 35% share of the company, making it the largest shareholder.
In 1989, Suara Karya received light sanctions from the Ministry of Information after running an article on the Sultan of Brunei. The article was considered likely to cause the Sultan emotional distress.
, it attempted a revamp of the newspaper and vowed not to promote the party's political interests through the daily; Dirk Thomsa considers their efforts unsuccessful, as Suara Karya is still often used as a way for Golkar members to express their opinions. As of 2005, Golkar claims a circulation of 80,000.
, dedicated towards "an idea ... the return to pure form of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution
".
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Established in 1971 to assist Golkar
Golkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
in winning that year's legislative election
Indonesian legislative election, 1971
Indonesia's second legislative election, and the first under the New Order regime, was held on July 3, 1971. There were 10 participants; 9 political parties and the "functional group" Golkar.-Background:...
, it became required reading for all civil servants and the voice of Golkar. After its circulation increased from 55,700 in 1971 to 300,000 in 1998, the fall of Suharto caused circulation to plummet to 3,000. , it is attempting rebranding to present cleaner, less biased news.
Old Order (1971–1998)
The first issue of Suara Karya was published on 11 March 1971 by the Suara Karya Foundation under direction of GolkarGolkar
The Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
(Party of the Functional Groups), prior to the July legislative election
Indonesian legislative election, 1971
Indonesia's second legislative election, and the first under the New Order regime, was held on July 3, 1971. There were 10 participants; 9 political parties and the "functional group" Golkar.-Background:...
to assist Golkar. It took three days of preparation and Rp 50 million (at the time US$ 130,000) in start-up costs for the newspaper to be established. Its chief executive was Sumiskun, and the head editor was Jamal Ali. Other members of the editorial staff included Syamsul Bisri, Rahman Tolleng, Sayuti Melik, David Natipulu, and Cosmas Batubara.
For the first edition, 25,000 four-page copies were printed and sold at Rp. 10 each. A quarter of the front page was dedicated to a congratulatory note from President Suharto, while the main story was "Presiden Jawab Pertanyaan-pertanyaan Sekitar Supersemar" ("President Answers Questions regarding Supersemar"), which covered Suharto's explanation of Supersemar
Supersemar
The Supersemar, the Indonesian abbreviation for Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret was a document signed by the Indonesian President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, giving the Army commander Lt. Gen. Suharto authority to take whatever measures he "deemed necessary" to restore order to the chaotic situation...
and offered support for it. It also provided the paper's mission statement, which has been described as being "explicit that Suara Karya wanted to be a partisan paper".
Suara Karya influence resulted in Golkar winning their first election and securing their political power. The newspaper afterwards became required reading for all government employees. It soon came into direct competition with Kompas
Kompas
Kompas is the most widely read newspaper in Indonesia. Published by Kompas-Gramedia Group Publishing since June 28, 1965, it has a reputation in Indonesia for high-quality writing and investigative journalism...
, which became its biggest competitor.
With the support of Golkar, circulation expanded rapidly. By 1972, Suara Karya was selling 57,400 copies a day, 90.6% to the general public. During the succeeding years circulation varied, sometimes rising, sometimes falling drastically. By 1987, circulation had reached 124,079. At that time, Suara Karya employed 81 reporters, giving a ratio of one reporter for every 1,500 copies sold. It reached a circulation of 300,000 by 1998 and was considered the voice of Golkar Most of the subscribers were civil servants, who were required to do so by Golkar.
In 1983, together with Kompas
Kompas
Kompas is the most widely read newspaper in Indonesia. Published by Kompas-Gramedia Group Publishing since June 28, 1965, it has a reputation in Indonesia for high-quality writing and investigative journalism...
, Suara Pembaruan
Suara Pembaruan
Suara Pembaruan is an Indonesian afternoon daily. Founded in 1987 as a replacement for Sinar Harapan, it is one of the largest newspapers in Indonesia.-History:...
, and Tempo, Suara Karya founded the Jakarta Post. In 1994, Suara Karya was estimated to own a 35% share of the company, making it the largest shareholder.
In 1989, Suara Karya received light sanctions from the Ministry of Information after running an article on the Sultan of Brunei. The article was considered likely to cause the Sultan emotional distress.
Since 1998
When Suharto was forced to resign from office in 1998, Suara Karya circulation dropped sharply to from 300,000 to 3,000. After Golkar received the largest number of votes in the 2004 legislative electionIndonesian legislative election, 2004
Indonesia held legislative elections on 5 April 2004 for both houses of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's national legislature...
, it attempted a revamp of the newspaper and vowed not to promote the party's political interests through the daily; Dirk Thomsa considers their efforts unsuccessful, as Suara Karya is still often used as a way for Golkar members to express their opinions. As of 2005, Golkar claims a circulation of 80,000.
Function
Rizal Mallarangeng notes that Suara Karya original function was to help establish strong public support for Golkar; the paper is described as being "the paper of Golkar and the New Order". Meanwhile, Syamsul Bisri considered Suara Karya a form of social controlSocial control
Social control refers generally to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group. Many mechanisms of social control are cross-cultural, if only in the control...
, dedicated towards "an idea ... the return to pure form of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution
Constitution of Indonesia
The Constitution of Indonesia is the basis for the government of the Indonesia.The constitution was written in June, July and August 1945, when Indonesia was emerging from Japanese control at the end of World War II...
".
External links
- Suara Karya Online (official website)