Press Releases

Earthquake-Damaged Radio Stations in Yogyakarta Helped with New Equipment

Photo: Wayne Sharpe/Internews Indonesia Teddy Wahyu (left), Internews Yogya Media Response field officer, donates a production and editing computer to Mardi (right), the manager of Suara Kota FM community radio in Bantul, the worst affected area of the earthquake zone.

(July 24, 2006) On May 27, an earthquake off the coast of Yogyakarta Province, Central Java, Indonesia killed more than 5,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. On July 19, Internews made the first of a series of equipment donations to community radio stations in the disaster zone.

Soon after the earthquake, in order to get emergency relief and reconstruction information to those affected, Internews launched the Java Earthquake Emergency Media Project: Aiding Media Recovery and the Dissemination of Urgent Information to the Public, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development and the Hewlett Foundation.

The project takes a two-pronged approach – rebuilding the network of community radios that serves local audiences throughout the disaster zone and establishing an emergency AM radio broadcaster called Punokawan AM (Punokawan refers to a joker/advisor to the kings in ancient Yogyakarta folklore, a symbol of wisdom).

Calling on the volunteer journalists of the area’s community radio stations, Punokawan will broadcast essential information about health and hygiene, good rebuilding practices and techniques, and will invite experts to discuss ways in which those affected by the disaster can cope with this traumatic event in their lives.

The AM broadcaster was established by Internews with the assistance of partner groups Masyarakat Pers & Penyiaran Indonesia (MPPI- Indonesian Press and Broadcast Society) and the Jaringan Radio Komunitas, Community Radio Network (JRK) Jogjakarta.

MPPI is conducting basic journalism skills training with the community radio recruits in preparation for the launch of Punokawan AM. 

Internews and partners have identified several community radios that were damaged and lost equipment to the quake. Internews has assisted the first two stations: Malioboro FM and Suara Kota FM. Malioboro was created in 2002 by street vendors and other merchants on Yogyakarta’s famous Malioboro Street – the station itself is located on the outskirts of Bantul, the worst hit area in the earthquake. The station needed a new broadcasting computer and portable tape recorders. Internews, accompanied by representatives of the JRK, delivered the equipment to the station.

Internews also delivered an editing computer and tape recorder to Suara Kota FM, a volunteer-run station that reaches roughly 4,000 listeners in their community. The station is located in Winongo, near the Yogya-Bantul main road. Suara Kota’s building was destroyed by the earthquake. The community worked together to rebuild the station, but not before heavy rains ruined their transmitter and other equipment. Suara Kota will also be receiving a new transmitter from Internews.     

Internews and partners will be donating more equipment to several other community stations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Wayne Sharpe, Internews Indonesia Country Director

Teddy Wahyu, Internews Yogyakarta Emergency Media Project Officer, 0816 4818 698