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