INDONESIA: Journalists awarded for reportage

UNICEF, AJI recognize nine journalists from radio, television and print for their coverage of children-related issues

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

By Irawaty Wardany

Jakarta — The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) awarded nine Indonesian journalists Monday for their work on children.

The award ceremony, held at the Jakarta Convention Center, was attended by Information and Communication Minister Muhammad Nuh, State Minister for Women’s Empowerment Meutia Farida Hatta Swasono, UNICEF chief representative in Indonesia Gianfranco Rotigliano as well as editors of national media organizations.

The award was delivered to three media categories including radio, television and print. The radio category was scooped by journalists at 68H Radio News with their feature stories.

Fariansyah took first place with his story TK 10,000 Perak (Kindergarten with a monthly fee of Rp 10,000) aired in January 2007. The second place went to Sri Lestari with her story Perdagangan Anak dan Perempuan di Indramayu (Trafficking of women and children in Indramayu) aired in July 2007.

And third place went to Suryawijanti with her story Hidupku Terbelenggu Perbudakan Adat (My life is repressed by custom’s slavery) aired in March 2007. Currently 68H is the only radio station that provides a feature program every day at 7:30 p.m.

In the television category, reporter Dulhadi and cameraman Toni Tjahjono from RCTI won first place with his story Manusia Gerobak (Cart men) aired on the channel’s "Urban" program in September 2007. Second place went to Aderia of Trans TV with her story Demi Uang Bayi Disewakan (Babies for rent) aired for "Reportase Sore" (Afternoon Report) program in July 2007. And third place went to Dulhadi of RCTI with his story on Nasib Buram Bocah Pedongkelan (Dark fate of Pedongkelan children) also aired on the "Urban" program.

Best journalistic work on children in print was   to Ahmad Nurhasim from Jurnal Nasional daily, with his article Saujana Retak di Balik Penjara Anak (Broken vision behind the bars of juvenile prison) published in July 2007. Second prize in print went to Angela H. Wahyuningsih from Femina magazine with her article, Aku tak Mau jadi Artis Ma! (I don’t want to be a celebrity model/actress/singer, Ma!) published in the 44th edition of Femina. Third place in print went to Aris Kelana from Gatra magazine with his article Gemuk Dahulu Penyakit Datang Kemudian (Being fat first, disease comes later) published in March 2007.

All winners were given Rp 50 million (US$5,313.5) of life insurance each and cash prizes of Rp 6,5 million, Rp 5 million and Rp 4 million each for first, second and third place. Fariansyah said in his speech, the award was his first ever.

He said he did not expect praise however as he was "just doing his job when he found out about a kindergarten in Plumpang, East Jakarta". The kindergarten he reported on is managed by a local housewife with only Rp 10,000 school fees a month.

At the time he drafted the story, the kindergarten was almost closed down because of a lack of funds for rent. "But after the story was aired, one of the listeners settled the rental fee for two years," Fariansyah said.

Date Posted: 12/18/2007