The Jakarta Post - Weekender

It’s been almost a year since the Weekender made its debut. In the big scheme of media anniversaries it may be a minor milestone (our own The Jakarta Post marks a quarter century in the business in April), but of course it’s of great importance to those of us working on the magazine.

The first issue was put together (rushed may be a better description) in record time; I moved a bit apprehensively to handling the still unnamed magazine on October 1, 2006, venerable magazine editor Samuel Mulia came on board as a consultant in mid-November and, miracle of miracles, come January 2007 the first edition, bearing the grinning countenance of Butet Kartaredjasa, was out to readers.

Today, we remain a small core team – Samuel, graphic consultant Modhina Rimolfa and myself – along with input and assistance from the Post’s chief editor Endy Bayuni, CEO Daniel Rembeth, copy editor David Eyerly, technical consultant Ipunk A.F. and our advertising executives, headed by Yulia Herawati, who knock on doors selling a still slightly foreign concept of a weekend magazine. Not to be forgotten are our valued contributors, the writers and illustrators who have provided the contents of every issue.

We had our concept of what kind of publication we wanted, based loosely around the traditional Sunday magazines found from London to New York and Mumbai, and it has been tweaked and polished. In the first issue, I wrote that I wanted the Weekender to be a good read, and appeal to our broad range of subscribers: Indonesians and expats from many lands, of different backgrounds and interests.

That has not changed; although the magazine is an English-language publication, we do not aspire to be an “expat-oriented lifestyle” publication. Our articles are about the shared experience of living in Indonesia, for Indonesians and those transplanted here.

So, as we mark one year in business, I wish a happy, successful and spiritually enriching new year to you all. And, as I said in my first editor’s note 12 months ago, please read on.

( Bruce Emond )

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