KBR (news agency)

KBR
Country
Indonesia
First air date
29 April 1999
AvailabilityIndonesia, Asia, Australia
HeadquartersJakarta
Broadcast area
Nasional
OwnerPT Media Lintas Inti Nusantara
Key people
Goenawan Mohamad as President Commissioner, Tosca Santoso as President Director
Established1998
Official website
www.kbr.id

KBR is the first independent national radio news agency of Indonesia. It is a unique initiative to assist Indonesia's transition to democracy by facilitating open and informed discussion among millions of people throughout the archipelago. Simply by tuning into their favourite local radio station, millions of Indonesians from across the political, economic and social spectrum can engage in radio debates and, in doing so, influence key issues affecting their lives.

KBR was established as KBR68H (Kantor Berita Radio 68H, Radio News Agency 68H) in April 1999, soon after the end of three decades of authoritarian rule which also signalled an end to restrictions on the production of radio news.[1] Its first headquarters were in Utan Kayu Street No. 68H, East Jakarta — hence its name.

It quickly developed as a relatively low cost and effective tool for citizen participation in public life. Today, KBR produces 8 hours a day of information and education based programming to 900 radio stations in Indonesia and nine countries across Asia. With 22 million regular listeners in Indonesia alone, it is by far the biggest radio network in the country.[2]

With its explicitly public service ethos, and its strong emphasis on government accountability, KBR has created a new paradigm for information dissemination and democratic development in Indonesia.[3]

On May 3, 2014, KBR68H was renamed as simply KBR, removing 68H letter.