Ours, after all, are parallel worlds, with racial and religious divides and military strongmen. This has been particularly important in Indonesia, where all media were under strict control of the government until the end of Suharto's reign in spring 1998. Speed is another asset. The archipelago is so large, and some regions so remote, that in many places newspapers arrive a week late, if at all. And many people cannot read.
Radio news distributed by the Internet can be almost immediate.
Perhaps the most important feature of 68H is that local stations produce their own shows and send them, via the Web, to Jakarta, where they are edited and distributed, via the Web, to other member stations. Among the best and most enthusiastic producers are the three stations in Aceh, where military atrocities against civilians have spawned a large refugee population and an active separatist movement. Santoso and others expect the member stations to grow in number as well as in popularity. In addition to straight news reports, the station is now sending out interviews of prominent politicians, businessmen and academics. A current-events segment with advertisers is scheduled for this fall.