This article addresses the research on media history in Indonesia. The VOC
(Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) period of the seventeenth/eighteenth
century, also known as the early modern period, is regarded as a starting point
in this study. It was during this time that printing machines were imported from
Europe by the VOC authorities. The availability of paper and printing ink also
made it possible for the production of printed matter such as forms, books, and
other material. The first known printed media was the Bataviasche Nouvelles,
which served as a kind of newspaper. This period saw three types of publishing
houses: (1) urban publishing; (2) publishing houses working under contract; and
(3) royal publishing houses. Basically however, all these different publishing
activities were aimed at supporting the existence of the VOC. Publishing
companies were generally engaged in providing service to the Church and
meeting the VOC?s administrative requirements. Communication media, based
on enhancing freedom of opinion and disseminating information, would pose a
problem as it would come face to face with VOC?s power monopoly.
