Interviews

Indonesia

Muhammad Jufrianto

Muhammad Al-Amin

Muhammad Jufrianto
Jufri was born in Indonesia and has lived there his whole life. He was born in Paririsi and now he lives in the city of Makassar in South Sulawesi Province, but he is currently a teaching assistant (Teaching Bahasa and Indonesian Culture) in Northern Illinois University in the US. Q: What do you see as the most commonly used form of media in Indonesia? (mobile phone, TV, social media, newspapers, broadcast, etc.)
A: Mobile Phone and TV. Q: What are people using media for? (News, entertainment, activism, disaster management, etc.)
A: Mobile phone for social media, TV for news and entertainment. Q: Are you aware of any media access issues happening in Indonesia?
A: Yes I am. In Indonesia, there is a perspective coming to the societies mind that some TV programs pros to the Democratic Party which leads the Indonesian government system now. This might be caused by the leader of the party owns the TV program. Therefore, other TV programs which are mostly funded by the persons who are cons to the government. As an example, people who are watching metro TV which is owned by the leader of Indonesian Democratic Party will always broadcast any TV shows or program that can blow up all good things done bye the government. Q: How do most people receive news?
A: Open detik.com by mobile phone, and watching TV. Q: What are the major news outlets locally and nationally?
A: TV : RCTI, METRO; Newspaper in online: Detik.com Q: Do you recognize biases in the media? If so, in what ways?
A: Yeah. Depending on who is the stockholder of the news outlet. Yes. In Indonesia, it is also influenced by political issues. Which party the TV belongs to (Metro TV is mostly believed the TV that pros to the recent government; while TV One is one which is against the government) Q: In what ways, does media-technology shape education?
A: By providing some programs which focuses on promoting some programs that can motivate the people to better their education, especially to those in remote areas. This helps us a lot. Q: What role does media play in family life in Indonesia?
A: This media helps family to easily connect each other including Mobile phone, TV and Newspaper. TV and Newspaper becomes the material for discussion during the morning tea time. Q: What types of music and video clips are Indonesians consuming?
A: Indonesian slowrock, dangdut, and western music. Q: Of the media (music, TV, movies, news) consumed in Indonesia, would you say most of it is homegrown or produced elsewhere?
A: Some are Homegrown and some are produced elsewhere. Q: What is the food like in Indonesia?
A: Various depending on the island. The food you are mostly consuming is mostly decided by which island are you from. People from Jogjakarta will like consuming sweet foods, people from Sumatera will like hot spicy ones, and others. Q: What health issues are you aware of happening in Indonesia?
A: Hypertension and diabetes. Q: Do you have a sense of the general happiness of the inhabitants of Indonesia? (What are the everyday stresses, costs, joys, etc.?)
A: They are stress on what's going on in the country now. demonstration, discrimination and racism become their concern nowadays. Q: Do you recognize ways in which Indonesian culture is misrepresented through American news or other media such as films, TV, music, etc.?
A: By media which always speaks out that Moslem's are terrorists or ISIS. Indonesia is mostly populated by Moslem's. This also becomes our big concern before traveling to USA.

Emma Liskowsky
Emma is a 1998 graduate of Saint Michael's College. She moved to Jakarta, Indonesia to teach at an international school and she has been living there for nine years. Q: What do you see as the most commonly used form of media? (mobile phone, TV, social media, newspapers, broadcast, etc.)
A: TV, although probably social media is a close second (mobile phones are very accessible) Q: Are you aware of any media access issues happening in Indonesia?
A: In more rural villages (which many Indonesians live), they have limited access to roads and infrastructure that would provide consistent electricity and phone coverage. They would have very limited access to instant media coverage. They may receive media stories via newspaper if a village member went into town etc.... Q: How do most people receive news?
A: TV, social media, word of mouth Q: What are the major news outlets locally and nationally?
A: Televisi Republic Indonesia (TVRI), Surya Citri Televisi (SCTV), Kompass (newspaper) Q: Do you recognize biases in the media? If so, in what ways?
A: Yes. Money talks in Indonesia. You can pay a journalist to represent your story, pay them an agreed fee and they will publish half of it one day, get their money, then publish the rest the next day. My school, Jakarta Intercultural School was (and is), the subject of a major scandal that was increasingly misrepresented by the media. Two of our teachers and cleaning staff are in prison for a crime that was never committed, however that was not how it was represented in the local media. In addition, you can pay people a small fee ($1-$2) and promise them food and they will gladly show up to protest and cause a news spectacle of your choosing. This happened recently in Jakarta with a protest over the Christian governor, many of the protesters were there for the free food and board, not because they had any disapproval of the governor. This happens regularly, a way to manipulate public perspective. They will then also pay the big media outlets to go cover their "protest". Q: In what ways, does media-technology shape education?
A: I am unaware of local Indonesian schools, only my own International one which is not a representation of Indonesia. I cannot imagine many local, Muslim schools (all public schools are Muslim) have access to technology within their education systems. They are very poorly funded and have limited resources. I am also inclined to think that many local Indonesians are not taught to question bias or think beyond what media is telling them. Education is limited to religion, Indonesian and maybe some math?? Very little in the way of incorporating media, technology, questioning etc... This is only in the public school sector, families that can afford it will send their children to Christian or International schools throughout Jakarta. Education is not free (for anyone). Q: What role does media play in family life in Indonesia?
A: It really depends on the family. An upper/middle class family with access to TV and Internet, probably just as much as it does elsewhere. More rural families with no access to electricity, education, phone service etc...probably very little. They work and live day to day. Q: What types of music and video clips are Indonesians consuming?
A: I do not know the answer to this. Q: Of the media (music, TV, movies, news) consumed in Indonesia, would you say most of it is homegrown or produced elsewhere?
A: Combination of both. American movies are very popular, as well as American pop culture. Indonesia also has its own pop/movie stars etc...

Muhammad Al-Amin
Muhammad is a 15-year-old who works at a media company called Instinc - Media Indonesia and has been living in Deliserdang,Sumatera Utara his whole life. Q: First, can you please tell me more about Instinc - Media Indonesia?
A: Instinc - Media Indonesia is media for tell any people about Indonesia culture, any trick and tips, its make for be a good news Q: What is the most commonly used form of media in Indonesia? (mobile phone, TV, social media, newspapers, broadcast, etc.) A: We most used any media, but we most use mobile phone and web with TV. Q: What do people use media for? (News, entertainment, activism, disaster management, etc.) A: We use media for find information and latest news Q: How do most people receive news?
A: We receive media from TV and, Instinc share the news again. Q: What are the major news outlets locally and nationally? A: The major news is political,etc. Q: Do you recognize biases in the media? If so, in what ways?
A: I not recognize biases Q: In what ways, does media-technology shape education?
A: Education from technology, we can find any trick and tutorial for develop technology and create new technologies Q: What role does media play in family life in Indonesia? A: Media roles in family life is so much, example for teaching children to be smart with technologies Q: What types of music and video clips are Indonesians consuming?
A: Any music in Indonesia, but most familiar is dangdut and pop Q: Of the media (music, TV, movies, news) in Indonesia, is it made in Indonesia or produced elsewhere?
A: Music and movie etc its made from Indonesia, but sometimes from other countries also aired Q: What is the food like in Indonesia?
A: Any food from Indonesia, we have any traditional food like nasi Padang, Sate Madura, fried rice,Rendang,Dendeng,and any traditional food.