Tempo (Indonesian magazine)

Tempo (Indonesian magazine)
Title	Tempo
Category	News magazine
Frequency	Weekly
Publisher	PT Tempo Inti Media Harian
Firstdate	1971
Country	Indonesia
Language	Indonesian, English

Tempo (Indonesian magazine) Tempo is a weekly news magazine founded in 1971 that covers Indonesian politics, society, business, culture and investigative journalism. The magazine has reported on Indonesian presidents, ministers, corporations and legal cases while interacting with institutions such as the People's Consultative Assembly, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), General Elections Commission (KPU), and judicial bodies. Tempo's reporting has connected to events involving figures like Suharto, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Joko Widodo, Abdurrahman Wahid and institutions including Bank Indonesia, Pertamina, Golkar Party, and Indonesian National Police.

History

Tempo was established in 1971 during the era of Suharto's New Order (Indonesia) by journalists with experience at publications such as Mingguan Indonesia and influenced by international outlets like Time (magazine), Newsweek, and The Economist. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Tempo covered scandals linked to figures such as Bob Hasan, B. J. Habibie, and policy debates in forums like the People's Representative Council and the Ministry of Finance (Indonesia). In 1994 Tempo faced suspension under press restrictions enacted by the Suharto administration and regained operation after political shifts culminating in the Reformasi period following the 1998 resignation of Suharto. In the 2000s and 2010s Tempo expanded coverage of cases involving Bank Century, Anas Urbaningrum, Setya Novanto, and financial scrutiny tied to Bank Indonesia and state-owned enterprises like Pertamina and PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara). The magazine's trajectory intersects with Indonesian transitions including the presidencies of Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Joko Widodo, as well as constitutional and electoral developments handled by bodies such as the Constitutional Court of Indonesia and the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Editorial profile and content

Tempo combines investigative reporting, feature writing, and analysis on personalities including Prabowo Subianto, Anies Baswedan, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, and corporate leaders from firms such as Astra International and Lippo Group. Its pages have addressed legal proceedings in courts like the Corruption Court of Jakarta, regulatory issues involving the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and policy debates at ministries including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Indonesia) and the Ministry of Finance (Indonesia). Cultural and arts coverage has featured figures such as Raden Saleh, Affandi, and contemporary creators appearing at institutions like the Jakarta Arts Council and events including the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. Tempo has published investigations into media conglomerates with ties to groups like Bakrie Group and political machinations within parties such as Partai Demokrat and Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan. The magazine often situates reporting alongside developments in international relations involving United States, China, ASEAN, and cases intersecting with bodies like the International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank.

Circulation and distribution

Tempo's print circulation and distribution networks have served urban centers such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Makassar while reaching readers via newsstands, subscriptions, and institutional libraries like the National Library of Indonesia. Distribution has involved logistics with companies operating in regions including Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua, and circulation trends have responded to advertising from conglomerates like Sinar Mas Group and Salim Group. The magazine's readership spans professionals connected to bodies such as Bank Indonesia and academia at universities like Universitas Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, and Bandung Institute of Technology.

Controversies and government relations

Tempo's investigative pieces have led to legal challenges, media bans, and conflicts with authorities including episodes during the Suharto era and confrontations with officials in cabinets led by Megawati Sukarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. High-profile controversies involved reporting tied to figures such as Tommy Suharto, Rudy Ramli, and politicians implicated in probes by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Tempo has litigated matters in courts such as the Central Jakarta District Court and engaged with press freedom advocates like Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and international organizations including Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists. Tensions have occurred around laws such as the Information and Electronic Transactions Law and regulatory actions by institutions like the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Indonesia).

Digital presence and multimedia

Tempo developed digital editions and platforms that interact with social networks operated by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as streaming and video content distributed via services like YouTube and podcasts reflecting trends in digital journalism from outlets such as The Guardian and BBC News. Its online reporting has covered technology firms including GoTo (company), Grab (company), and legal disputes touching platforms overseen by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Indonesia). Tempo's multimedia teams have produced documentaries and investigative series that reference institutions like the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), international forums including ASEAN summits, and cultural events such as the Jakarta International Film Festival.

Key personnel and contributors

Key editors, reporters, and contributors have included figures trained at institutions such as Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Indonesia, and international programs at Columbia University Journalism School and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Notable journalists and columnists associated with the magazine have examined stories involving leaders like Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, and corporate executives from Pertamina and Bank Mandiri, as well as legal commentators connected to the Constitutional Court of Indonesia and the Supreme Court of Indonesia.

Awards and recognition

Tempo has received national and international prizes for journalism, including awards from institutions such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and regional honors tied to investigative reporting alongside recognition from bodies like the WAN-IFRA and journalism prizes associated with universities including Universitas Indonesia and international press freedom groups such as Reporters Without Borders.

Category:Magazines published in Indonesia