Media course for Indonesia in transition
Early last year while in Indonesia researching her book (co-authored with Professor David Hill) on media, politics and culture, Krishna Sen (School of Media Communication and Culture) was interviewing the Indonesian government’s then Director General of Radio, TV and Film, Mr Ishadi, about the media’s role in Indonesia’s shift to democracy.
One important talking point was the transformation of the state-run media to independent public broadcasting organisations.
Dr Sen recalled the conversation: “He said: ‘You could help us get the training to make this cultural shift.’”
She took the proposal to the Canberra-based Centre for Democratic Institutions (of which ARC is a partner) and, after further collaboration between Murdoch, the CDI and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, came up with an intensive course for public broadcasters. The course was jointly funded by the CDI and the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
In May, Murdoch and the ABC (Sydney and Perth) ran a five-day workshop for 15 senior staff from Radio Republic Indonesia and TV Republic Indonesia. The course covered media law, models of public service broadcasting, programming, audience analysis and marketing.
“The workshop is a practical outcome of Australian Research Council Large Grant funding. The collaboration with the ABC was made possible by the industry focus of our Media Studies programme.” said Dr Sen.
“Indonesia is going through a major upheaval with its move to democracy. The media, particularly the public service broadcasters, will have an enormous role in the future shape of the nation. It’s exciting that Murdoch is playing its part in that.”
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| Popular Indonesian TV personality Usi Karundeng (left) and Murdoch's Dr Krishma Sen. |
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