The Development of Local Journalism in Aceh Post Tsunami and its Implication for the Welfare of Acehnese People

The earthquake and tsunami which happened in Aceh December 26 2004 was the biggest disaster which happened in the early of 21st century. Thousands of people were died, most infrastructure were ruined, and the role of local government (Pemda) wasn’t functioned. In the meantime, the ability to produce news from local media e.g Serambi Indonesia, Kontras, and radio stations also paralyzed. For few weeks tsunami caused Aceh be like “the death city”.

Soon after that disaster many aids came from all of the world. Materials, drugs, vehicles, also money were given from countries, foundations, or personal to Acehnese people. Aceh was rebuilding better and faster. Almost four years after tsunami, now Aceh look better. Many new infrastructures are rebuilded; school, road, hospital, and much more.

With donations from all of the world, Aceh rebuild all sector include also media. Media is the most important things in the process of rebuild Aceh. With media, the disaster in Aceh be separated to the world soonly. Media also awakening the awareness of Acehnese people to rebuild their own region with their own hand. After tsunami, in supported by local or foreign donaturs the local journalism in Aceh was developing quickly and vary. Many of them focus in news, politic, and gender such as Harian Aceh (daily news), Sipil (two weeks newspaper), Bungong (two weeks magazine), Aceh Independent (monthly magazine), Aceh News (two monthly magazine), Get (girls magazine), and etc.

Further is interesting to know that is there correlation between the development of local journalism with the welfare of Acehnese people. And with assumption the local journalism working only by supported from donatur; are they still exist if there is no donatur anymore.

Media such as local journalism in one hand is needeed in awakening the awareness of people and in other hand as social control of government policy. But media also need their own independency to guarantee they can achieve their aim is working for the sake of people.