Jakob Oetama, Pioneer of the Consoling Press

Kompas

Jakob Oetama.

Jakob Oetama was a pioneer of the press ahead of the development of online, digital or cyber media in the country. He was also known as the forerunner of the press with a “tender”, comforting tone, who, along with Petrus Kanisius Ojong, set up the first and largest printed press company in Indonesia. His “tender heart” was reflected in the news and opinion pieces of the Kompas daily, which have promoted educative goals and shunned provocative viewpoints.The founder and General Manager of Kompas put the press management profession as follows: “Yes, I’ve often described it that we are like walking in a river and stumbling over a rock. We can respond by kicking the rock. But if the rock is too big, we may break our leg. Yet we can also take another approach: ‘Oh, there’s a rock! I’ll withdraw.’ I don’t keep retreating, but instead turn to the path without rocks. It’s tiring, because we’re sometimes impatient. Conflict also occasionally arises as we assume that something big is at stake.”

Also read: Working with Heart