On Monday, 30 November 2015, AIYA Jakarta and Inside Indonesia held an event to launch the digital archive of Inside Indonesia magazine. The event took place at Coffee Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. In addition to the launch of the digital archives, the event also featured the launch of a short film about Australia-Indonesia relations made by an Australian journalist Nick Baker and a discussion on “The Role of Media in the Australia-Indonesia relationship”. The discussion, moderated by Tim Fitzgerald from the Jakarta Post and AIYA Jakarta, featured Jemma Purdey, Chair of Inside Indonesia Board, and Nick Baker, an Australian journalist.

Jemma Purdey explains how to access Inside Indonesia new digital archives. Photo: Caesar Budisatria.

Jemma Purdey explains how to access Inside Indonesia’s new digital archives. Photo: Caesar Budisatria.

Inside Indonesia is a magazine established 32 years ago in Melbourne by a diverse group of academics and activists. The initial purpose was to provide more information about Indonesia during the New Order (Orde Baru) period. Now Inside Indonesia takes a big part in shaping Australia-Indonesia relationship by delivering various stories about Indonesia to Australian people. The magazine itself has been online since 2007 and the launching of the digital archives that means people now can access all past editions of the magazine.

Jemma Purdey, Nick Baker, and Tim Fitzgerald discuss the role of the media in the Australia-Indonesia relationship. Photo: Caesar Budisatria

Jemma Purdey, Nick Baker, and Tim Fitzgerald discuss the role of the media in the  Australia-Indonesia relationship. Photo: Caesar Budisatria

At the end of the launch there was a discussion on “The Role of Media in the Australia-Indonesia Relationship”. Sekar Langit, the Vice President of AIYA Jakarta, said that the topic was chosen because the media hold an important role in the bilateral relationship and they hope this discussion will encourage media to create more positive news in the future.

Audiences were very interested to follow the discussion, and many people got involved by asking some questions or giving their personal opinion. All of them were very excited about Inside Indonesia being online.