Radio Breaks Down Barriers: Groundbreakers in Business, Reach and Creativity

The Small Theatre at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, is big enough to hold more than 150 people. On Wednesday, 5 May 2010, it was it was a full house, buzzing with the Indonesian Radio Awards. Radio professionals including broadcasters, producers, reporters, technicians, station managers, operations directors, managing directors, commissioners, and radio people from all over Indonesia, had gathered to show their appreciation to their world, the world of broadcast radio.

No fewer than five top prizes were awarded to those who best demonstrated their determination and commitment to radio in a radio drama, program promotion, public service announcement, commercial advertisement, or journalistic feature. It was, of course, a great honour for them to receive prizes named after Jusul Ronodipuro and Ken Sudarto. And this year, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the late Ebet Kadarusman. He was living proof of how a radio presenter could take his job seriously, but not necessarily sound serious. Half a century of broadcasting in Indonesia and overseas was proof of his extraordinary commitment to, and love of, his profession.