Profil Singkat LeSPI

Brief Description of Activities:

Since our establishment in January 1999, LeSPI has conducted various activities such as training and workshops, research, seminars, various media and information events as well as numerous publications. The list below briefly describes some of the activities LeSPI has conducted.

1. Training and Workshops

§ Training in Radio Journalism for radio reporters in Central Java (1999-2001). Funded by USAID block grant administered through ISAI Jakarta. As a result of the training, most private owned radio stations now have radio journalists and broadcast their own news services. This is a significant increase compared to the scarcity of radio journalist at the beginning of the reformation era (1998).

§ Distance Training in Basic Journalism (PJ3 program) for the public throughout Indonesia (1999-2001). Funded by USAID block grant administered through ISAI Jakarta. As a result, many of the program's alumni now work as capable journalists with excellent work ethics.

§ Training/Workshop in Advanced Thematic Journalism (1999-2001). Funded by USAID block grant administered through ISAI Jakarta. Training themes include: reporting on the environment, reporting on local culture, reporting on the use of regional budget, reporting on insurance.

§ Workshop on the Development of Local Televisions in Indonesia in 2005. Funded by USAID through SET Foundation.

§ Training in Basic Journalism and Writing for Mass Media targeting special groups/communities. Funded by participants and held in the form of in-house trainings. Participants include:

Ø Lecturers of Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Tujuh Belas Agustus - Semarang

Ø University students from various higher education institutions (IAIN Walisongo, Unisula Semarang, Unika Semarang, UKSW Salatiga).

Ø Students of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) and church youths/activist.

Ø reporter and editor Candidates of Telaga Magazine – Percik Foundation Salatiga.

§ Training in Investigative Journalism for students in various higher education institutions in Semarang and surrounding regions. Funded by the participants.

§ Training/Refresher course in editing and writing in mass media for editors and reporters of magazines and tabloids published by Suara Merdeka Group (2006, funded by Suara Merdeka).

§ Training in media literacy for elementary and junior high school students (2007, funded by Unicef)

2. Research

§ Survey of private-owned radio stations in Central Java (1999). Funded by UNESCO through ISAI Jakarta.

§ Content Analysis of Suara Merdeka Daily Newspaper (2000). Funded by Suara Merdeka.

§ Support the ISAI research on Actors of Democracy (2001-2002). Funded by SAREC through ISAI Jakarta

§ Research on Journalist's Preference in Reporting on Issues of AIDS, Gender and Reproductive Health (2002-2004). Funded by the Ford Foundation through LP3Y. Results published in the book Jurnalis di Enam Kota di Indonesia (2006).

§ Research on Journalist's Preparedness in facing the 2004 General Elections (funded by USAID through Koalisi Media in 2004). Research conducted simultaneously with LeSPI's network in other cities such as ISAI Jakarta, KIPPAS Medan, ELSIM Makassar, LSPS Surabaya, Radio MARA Bandung.

§ Monitoring of Media Content on the 2004 General Elections (funded by USAID through Koalisi Media).

§ Media monitoring on the child and woman issue (2007, funded by Kominfo Department)

§ Content analysis on the child and woman's right (2007, funded by Unicef)

§ the Agent of Change in the Eyes of the Marginal (2008, funded by Unicef).

3. Seminars and Publications

§ Since our establishment in 1999, LeSPI has held more than 50 seminars, both self organized (with funds from donors like USAID) and in collaboration with other institutions like IFES, TII, ICW, VAB, Yayasan SET, ELSAM, AJI, IMLPC, KRA (Malaysia), UNDIP, UNIKA, LBH Semarang, FSBI, SEAPA, Kompas, Suara Merdeka, Wawasan and many others. Seminar themes include: Media Watch in Indonesia, Methodology of Corruption Investigation, Business World Against Bribery, Development of Public Information Institutions, Cyber Crime, Traditional Arts, Empowerment of the Disabled, Empowerment of Women (Gender Issues, Domestic Violence) and many others. LeSPI has also held a series of book discussions. Some of the speakers who have attended LeSPI's seminars are: Arief Budiman, George J. Aditjondro, Effendi Gazali, Soetandyo Wignjosoebroto, Leo Batubara, Olle Tranquist, Phillip Quarles van Ufford, Eko Budihardjo, Herudjati Purwoko, Darmanto Jatman, Ignatia Hendrarti, Agnes Widanti and many others.

§ LeSPI's publications mostly deal with our research findings and are generally published in printed mass media in the form of popular science articles and opinions.

§ Together with Visi Anak Bangsa (VAB) and Rasika Radio, LeSPI has produced audio cassettes for the purposes of campaigning for a democratic and peaceful General Election for the disabled (particularly the blind). The production of these audio cassettes is a positive response to the demands and needs of blind people (organized in Pertuni) who need access to information regarding the 2004 General Election.

4. Organizing Various Events

§ Journalism Festival

The 2002 Journalism Festival was held simultaneously in Jakarta, Medan, Makassar, Surabaya, Semarang and Bandung. LeSPI organized the festival in Semarang by holding and exhibition of products of print media, student publications, cartoon demonstration and book fair. The festival was funded by USAID through ISAI Jakarta.

§ Freedom of Expression Festival

This festival, funded by OSF through ISAI Jakarta in 2005, was simultaneously held in six cities (Medan, Makassar, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Jakarta). In this festival, in addition to the national cartoon competition and exhibition, LeSPI also held an exhibition of media products (both print and electronic) in Semarang/Central Java, a series of public discussion on media development, arts performances (by theater groups in Semarang and surrounding regions), potehi wayang performance, poetry making parade, caricature demonstration by Semarang cartoonists (with international renown) and traditional arts performances.

§ Town Hall Meetings

A series of town hall meetings was held by LeSPI for the purpose of socializing and campaigning for a democratic and peaceful General Election. This activity, held in 2003-2004 was funded by USAID through Koalisi Media. Women, the disabled and young first time voters were invited to this event. In the middle of this activity, LeSPI also held wayang performances, disabled artists and street musicians.

§ Roundtable Discussions with Editors

LeSPI conducted roundtable discussions with leaders and members of the editorial board of printed and electronic media in Central Java to disseminate the results of LeSPI's and Koalisi Media's research on the preparation for the 2004 General Election. In addition, this activity enabled LeSPI to actively persuade media executives to give coverage space for socially excluded groups such as women, the disabled and laborers.

§ Public Service Announcements

Public Service Announcements were carried out as a way of widening the reach of LeSPI's campaign for a democratic and peaceful General Election. Held in 2003-2004, this activity was funded by USAID through Koalisi Media and was supported by a number of radio stations in Semarang.