Jakob Oetama | |
---|---|
Member of the People's Consultative Assembly | |
In office 1 October 1997 – 7 November 1998 | |
President | Suharto B. J. Habibie |
Member of the People's Representative Council | |
In office 1 February 1967 – 1 October 1977 | |
President | Suharto |
Personal details | |
Born | Magelang, Dutch East Indies | 27 September 1931
Died | 9 September 2020 Jakarta, Indonesia | (aged 88)
Resting place | Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, Jakarta |
Alma mater | Gajah Mada University |
Occupation | President director and founder of kompas daily |
Jakob Oetama (27 September 1931 – 9 September 2020) was an Indonesian teacher, journalist, and businessman who was one of the co-founders and owners of Kompas Gramedia Group, the largest media group in Indonesia, together with P. K. Ojong. He has served as President Director of Kompas Gramedia, Advisor to the Central Board of the Indonesian Journalists Association, and Advisor to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Journalists Confederation. He was the recipient of the Honoris causa Doctorate in Communications from Gadjah Mada University and the Mahaputra Utama Star award from President Suharto in 1973.[1][2]
The son of a retired teacher in Sleman, Yogyakarta. His journalistic career began when he became the editor of Penabur Weekly in 1956 and continued with the founding of Intisari magazine in 1963 with P. K. Ojong, who may have been inspired by America's Reader's Digest. Two years later, 28 June 1965, together with P. K. Ojong, Oetama founded the Kompas daily newspaper which he managed until his death.
In the 1980s, the Kompas Gramedia Group began to develop rapidly, especially in the field of communication. In addition, together with Jusuf Wanandi, Muhammad Chudori, Eric Samola, Fikri Jufri, Goenawan Mohamad, and Harmoko, Oetama also co-founded The Jakarta Post, Indonesia's national English daily newspaper.[3]
Oetama died on 9 September 2020, coinciding with Kompas Television's 9th anniversary, at Mitra Keluarga Hospital Kelapa Gading, Jakarta and was interred at the Kompas Gramedia Building. He was given a state funeral on 10 September 2020 at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery.[4]