Anna Politkovskaya

If you are a journalist and don’t know her yet, I think you should reshape your knowledge more. She is one of heroine in journalism. The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize gave her award for her martyrdom. She received that on World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, 2007. Beside that, she was awarded by International Publisher’s Association (IPA) on 16 May, 2007. There is another one journalist who slain by the unknown who got the same award. He is Hrant Dink who killed in Istanbul, Turkey. We will talk about him next time.

Politkovskaya could be unheard in Indonesia if she was not murdered on October 7, 2006. Her struggle ended in irony because before that she could escape from another threat. She dead in front of her apartment lift door in Moscow. Although beside her found one Makarov pistol with four bullets, no doubt she was murdered. It is impossible she had committed to suicide, whenever the murderer wanted to give an effect like that with left the pistol on murder scene. The reason is simple, because she always struggle for her life and freedom. Also the life and freedom of Russian and Chechnya people too. Since graduated from Journalism Faculty of Moscow State University in 1980, she became a journalist for Izvetia newspaper. Then she moved as internal media writer for Aeroflot, Russian airlines. When Gorbachev introducing perestroika (restructurization) into Russian politic and state system, Politkovskaya decided to moved into independent media. According to The Guardian website (October 15, 2004), she started her career on the new path in Obshchaya Gazeta, then Novaya Gazeta.Her criticism began at the time Russian try to re-occupy Chechnya.

You know, Chechnya is one of former Sovyet Union state. The state declared its independence from Russian Federation on 1991, but Russia could not accept that. They try to invade that little country with military campaign. Under Boris Yeltsin rule, Politkovskaya try to fight against totalitarianism. She thought that Moscow action invaded Chechnya was wrong. Yeltsin and his army attacked Chechnya within 1994-1996. That war ended with peace agreement. Feel not satisfy with the war result, Yeltsin’s successor Vladimir Putin declared another war campaign. It began in 1999. If Yeltsin gave relatively free for press, not like that under Putin. Politkovskaya wrote, “I had seen hundreds of peoples being tortured. I near unbelievable, those torment done by educated peoples like me who read books.”When she was life, FSB (Federal’naya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti Rossiyskoi Federatsii: FSB) or Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, intend to arrested her. She was jailed for three days without drink and eaten. Once upon a time attempted assassination launched with plugging poison into her tea. This event happened whenever she went to Beslan to participate in solving school’s hostage tragedy. But she survived.At the day she killed -according to her editor-, she was planned to write articles about torment methods done by Chechnya authority. Politkovskaya said the actor is kadirovtsy, Chechnya’s security body which loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov, pro-Moscow Chechnya’s Prime Minister. She became the 23^rd journalist in Russian who killed within 1996-2006. From this amount, 12 of them killed since Putin ruled. According to Committee to Protect Journalist in New York, Russia ranked the 3^rd most dangerous place for journalist. This rank only ‘defeated’ by Irak and Algeria.  

Rewrite by Bhayu M.H. from Kompas. Thursday, October 12, 2006. p. 33. and another internet sources.

Menyembuhkan Luka Bangsa: Adili Soeharto

Author: Harsoko Soediro. Editor: Bhayu Mahendra H. Title: Menyembuhkan Luka Bangsa: Adili Soeharto (To Heal Nation’s Hurt: Take Soeharto on Trial). Publisher: Pustaka Merah Putih, 2000. Language: Bahasa Indonesia.

This book is dissertation of author from one university in USA. Re-write in  bahasa Indonesia and published in Jakarta. Author focus on Soeharto’s sin around 1965 coup in Indonesia, which lead Soeharto himself to the presidential throne. His theory is Soeharto was the main actor of those black tragedy in Indonesian history.

Let’s Learn from Advertisement

Kompas, the biggest daily newspaper in
Indonesia has made special report on its last Sunday issue (6/5/07). Interesting, two full pages feature about advertising on page17-18. One under the title of “Mari Belajar dari Iklan” (“Let’s Learn from Advertisement”), and the other is “Hmmm, Mandom…! Hemmm, Iklan…!” (“Hmmm, Mandom…! Hemmm, Advertisement!”). For common Indonesian, maybe those feature could gave short view about advertising world. But for practician, maybe they even don’t need to look because what told on those articles are they everyday life. Only one thing I want to give comment. Actually we can learn from everything and everybody in this world. Everytime we could see something useful for us. This only happened to people who don’t blind themselves.

Erskine Caldwell

Do you know him? No? Don’t worry, so do I. Before I read about him on Minggu Pagi (first week of May 2007 edition), a local newspaper published in
Yogyakarta, as a part of Kedaulatan Rakyat group. He is a writer, actually. Not only a writer, but a famous writer. Gosh! How could I don’t know him? He is the author of two famous novels, Tobacco Road and God’s Little
Acre. But before that, I want to share you about his life journey. I think what he did could inspire us all. Erskine Caldwell try to be a writer since high school. He applied to printing company which published The Jefferson Reporter weekly. At that company, he learns to compose alphabet. You know, at the past time whenever design graphic and computer was not establish yet, printing company put alphabet block one by one on the printing plate. Huah, how tired! Young Caldwell learn to run little printing machine also. And at last, he knows all the printing process, from the beginning to the end. But, he confuse. Why he don’t receive any payment. You know what, his boss think he doesn’t need to pay. Because, he said, he gave young
Caldwell opportunity to learn! And he said
Caldwell should thanks for that!Wew! He resigned of course. But he got another opportunity to write some news.Really excited to the new skill he learn, he wrote several news for Augusta Chronicle, The Macon Telegraph, and The Atlanta Constitution at once.Whenever he studied at college, he try to write fiction. At that time, he worked for The Atlanta Journal and wrote feature articles. He has competitor named Peggy. But those women resign later for the famous. Peggy finally published her 10 years written novel: Gone With The Wind. Her alias is Margareth Mitchell. Yup, you must know this novel.Following his mate way,
Caldwell resigned also. He resigned not only from his job, but also from his college. This action made his parents, Ira S. Caldwell (father) and Caroline Preston Bell (mother) disappointed. Their family came from high class society. His father wanted young
Caldwell became priest like him, his mother wanted him became medical doctor or lawyer. Her mother is not only usual mother, but also taught Latin & French. It’s rare for women at that time. But his intention was not change anymore. He moved to Maine from his home,
Atlanta and rent a house without heater at the winter. He must cover all of his body with blanket to continuing writing. He wrote all day and night. Almost 14-18 hours a day! He also planted vegetables for his own meal. To heat himself, he copped wood everyday to burn.He wrote hundreds of short story and send to newspaper, but, nothing published! He didn’t surrender, but took another way to spend his life. He wrote book review and got 2 dollar for his work. His income increase until he got 25 dollar a week. And in a week, he received 25-30 books to review. At the same time, his short story published but on little magazine. He is not satisfied! Because his needs getting worst, finally he opened little book store and sell books after he reviewed them.At least, his struggle finds way out. From hundreds of short story he sends to Charles Scribner’s Sons magazine –famous magazine at that era-, one of them got published. He send another 25, and again, only one chosen. Maxwell Perkin, the editor talk to him and said he will got ‘three-fifty’. Once again, he looks disappointed but can accept that, because at the first time his work published by famous magazine. The editor smile-up, understand that
Caldwell has misunderstood. “Not 3,5 dollar son. I mean 350 dollar!”
Caldwell feels surprised and thankful.Perkin asked
Caldwell to write a novel. He wrote novel already, although his novel sold 800 copies only. For Perkin,
Caldwell wrote Tobacco Road, followed by another two books. His new novel sold about 4.000 copies. Little maybe, but this is by big publisher.Another surprise coming since his novel goes to Broadway. The drama based on his novel played continuously for 7 years! Off the Broadway stage, the same drama played for 17 years also.After this debut, he wrote another novel titled God’s Little Acre and became bestseller. He is rich and famous. When he decided became an author, his age just 23 years old. He targeted himself in 10 years he must be famous. But, he reached it in 29!  

Doubtful New Ad Regulation

Just before left his post for new duty as Indonesian State Minister for Stateowned Enterprises (Menteri Negara BUMN), Indonesian Communication and Information Minister  Sofyan Djalil had left ‘prize’ for ad community. He declared new regulation about advertising since last May 1st. This regulation about Using of Domestic Source for Advertising Product.

There are several ambiguity in those regulation:

• No regulator body mentioned
• Government seems doesn’t understand differentiation between ad agency & production house
• How those regulation will be ruled, including what kind of punishment for law breaker and who take that right

My comments about it, our government try to re-occupy their control to communication line including press. Not only with this regulation, but also with catarsation of KPI (Komite Penyiaran Indonesia-Indonesian Broadcasting Commitee). Actually, many things need to improve for government than trying to control every aspect of public & private communication like this.

Asian Brain Based Conference

I was attend this conference yesterday (May 5, 2007). This event is close-relating to my business now. Because I just established my HR & Psychology Consultant with my partner, I feel lacking in knowledge about this.  In this conference, presented several competent-speaker from Singapore, United States & Indonesia. They talked about the latest news, issues, and invention in the field of educating special needs children. Interesting because some research result has been presented and I know in Indonesia we’ve got big problem about this: there are no support from government.

About communication itself, I think all of practitioners in this field, including teacher, theurapist, psychologist & psychiatrist need hold their hand together to educate public. All of education for special needs children provided for children who came from the have society. But as far as I see, there are poor children who have the same problem also actually. So, how we cope if we still keep quiet?

Advertising in Movie

Whenever we seen movie like Nagabonar Jadi 2, we could see there were many sponsor products appeared on.  Actually,  since movie became mass production and could be seen by anybody, many company had try to advertise their products in.  We remember how The Three Stooges who very popular in 1960 era advertised some softdrink product. 

In the modern era, we can recognizing many advertiser using movie as their media. The most selling brand for movie character is Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. Every movie about this fiction MI-6 British secret agent loaded by advertisement always. We know 007 always using Aston Martin as his official car. But suddenly when Pierce Brosnan starring, BMW took over this ’sacred’ position.

In advertising theory, advertising in movie theaters and videos categorized as support media. They are non-traditional ways to promote products. Companies can place ads before or after the movie. Many movies run ads like this, for example from the 90’s era is Hasbro who has run ads before the movie Home Alone II. Meanwhile the using of products by actor/actress called as products placements tie-ins. Like in Nagabonar Jadi 2, we can see many products advertised within the movie.

According to Belch & Belch (1995:444-445), listed some advantages and disadvantages of movie and video advertising, including the following:

Advantages:

1. Exposure

2. Mood

3. Cost

4. Recall

5. Clutter

Disadavantages:

1. Irritation

2. Cost

Belch & Belch (1995:445-446) also mentioned the same thing about products placements in movies and TV, they are:

Advantages:

1. Exposure

2. Frequency

3. Support for other media

4. Source association

5. Cost

Disadvantages:

1. High absolute cost

2. Time of exposure

3. Limited appeal

4. Lack of Control

5. Public reaction

I will explain pointers above later. Because of it will take too long for one blog articles.

 

Bibliography: Belch, George E. and Michael A. Belch. 1995. Introduction to Advertising & Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective, 3^rd Ed. Chicago: Irwin.

Nagabonar Jadi 2-The Movie -My Review

Title: Nagabonar Jadi 2 (Nagabonar Become 2). Director: Deddy Mizwar. Role Actor: Deddy Mizwar. Supporting Actor: Tora Sudiro. Actress: Wulan Guritno. Producer: Gisela Citra Sinema.

 As I predicted before, this sequel movie of Nagabonar (1987) succeeded gain many viewers. More than 1 million! What a number! Beside that, this movie achieved more with taken 6 from 12 of awards from Festival Film Bandung (Bandung Movie Festival). Many reviews on the net seemed not touched with the way Deddy Mizwar told about nationalism. Maybe that thing felt old fashionable for modern minded person nowaday. But you know what, I was cry whenever Nagabonar (Deddy Mizwar) gave salutation to our Founding Father’s statue at Tugu Proklamasi (Proclamation Monument). Maybe this is because my heart touched, remembered my day when I was Paskibraka (you could see my organization experience in high school).

Instantly, this movie has deconstruct our way to tell about nationalism and moralism. Although too many preach there, but it’s okay. Depend on strong script and nice sinematography, this movie try to elaborate rare value in our days. In one scene for example, Bonaga (Tora Sudiro) refused to give authorization whenever his staff try to reduce tax with illegal trick. It’s so sweet, but very rare in reality, indeed.

I noted there were one bloopers: the book Laa Tahzan (Don’t be Sad) which already gave to the police in one scene, but in the next scene back to the hand of bajaj (Indian made’s three wheel mass transport) driver. What I really like is, I saw the making of this movie in Sudirman whenever Deddy climb up the Sudirman’s statue. And with watching, I know what movie took place their shooting at that time (when I saw, I didn’t know yet).

If I must give recommendation: watch this movie, don’t be late!