Parada Harahap (born 1899 inSipirok,Dutch East Indies, died 1959 inJakarta) was an important journalist and writer from the late colonial period and early independence era inIndonesia. In the 1930s, he was called the "king of the Java press".[1] He pioneered a new kind of politically neutralMalay language newspaper in the 1930s which would cater to the rising middle class of the Indies.[1]
Parada was born on December 15, 1899, into aBatak family in Pargarutan,Sipirok,South Tapanuli Regency,Dutch East Indies, now part ofNorth Sumatra province inIndonesia. Although mostBatak people areChristians, Harahap was aMuslim Batak.[2] He was largely self-taught and an enthusiastic reader from a young age, mainly reading materials sent to him by his sister who lived inBukittinggi.[3] However, he did also get a formal education, studying at the Teacher's Training School (Kweekschool) inBukittinggi.[4] At the age of 15 he became a clerk at a rubber plantationRubber Cultuur Mij. Amsterdam in theJambi area ofSumatra.[3] During his teen years he gained an interest in newspapers, subscribing toPewarta Deli andAndalas, and often writing letters toSoetan Palindoengan, editor ofPewarta Deli.[4]
Harahap's career in newspapers started in 1918 when he became editor ofSinar Merdeka inPadang, as well as editor of aBatak language paper inSibolga calledPoestaka.[4] During this time he was also active in theSarekat Islam inPadang.[4]
In 1922 Harahap relocated fromSumatra toJava. He started as a low-level printing assistant atSin Po inBatavia.[3] With the recommendation of some Sumatran journalist notables, he then became head editor of a competing paper,Neratja.[4] There, he learned a lot about the business fromAbdul Muis,Agus Salim andDjojosoediro.[4] After 9 months there he launched his own newspaper,Bintang Hindia.[3]
He soon expanded his news holdings, founding the wire serviceAlgemene Pers en Nieuws Agentschaap (Alpena).[3] He then founded a series of new papers:Bintang Timoer,Djawa Barat,Sinar Pasundan,Semangat, as well asDutch-languageDe Volks Courant.[3] Of those papers,Bintang Timoer, launched in September 1926,[5] quickly became the most successful, not least due to the popular writing ofAbdoel Rivai.[3] Even before its first issue, theDutch language newspaperAlgemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië was already recommending it to "the natives" due to Harahap's reputation for hard work and dedication to good journalism.[6] The editorial lineup in the first year, aside from Harahap, were G. Soetadipradja, Kadar, Hatnid and Abdullah Badjrei.[7] The paper noted thatBintang Timoer would be independent of any religious or political faction, and that it had a more modern layout than mostMalay language papers, with illustrations and more space given to content.[7] Since the paper was not involving itself in politics, it even promised that while "the importance of Indonesia will be kept in mind, since no party interests are served, Indonesia will be understood as a 'geographical concept' not in the meaning of a 'political concept'."[8] That type of statement symbolizes his attitude in the late 1920s and 1930s, that newspapers are a business not a political movement, and accepting Dutch rule in the Indies rather than using the newspaper to fight it.[1]
During this time Harahap involved himself in Indies journalism in many important ways. In 1924 he translated the Dutch penal code sections about journalism from Dutch into Malay.[4] In 1925 Harahap also helped organize a new association for Asian journalists in the Indies called theJournalistenbond Azie (Associations of Journalists of Asia).[1]Mohammad Tabrani fromHindia Baroe andKwee Kek Beng fromSin Po were on the executive board, withWage Rudolf Supratman as chairman.[1]
Bintang Timur, his newspaper, apparently resumed publication in early 1953 after being unable to publish duringWorld War II and theIndonesian National Revolution.[9] Under its new guise in independentIndonesia, Harahap became president-director and head editor, and promised that the paper would have a "national progressive" line and to present the news in a responsible and neutral manner.[10]
In 1956 Harahap was appointed dean of a new college for journalism and political science in Jakarta, thePerguruan Tinggi Ilmu Kewartawanan dan Politik orAkademi Wartawan, supported by theYayasan Ibnu Chaldun, a foundation run by various Muslim figures in the city.[11]
Harahap died on May 11, 1959, inJakarta.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
