Australian Senior Editors Visit to Strengthen People-to-People Links

A delegation of senior Australian media figures arrived in Jakarta yesterday to commence a week-long program aimed at increasing understanding between Australia and Indonesia and enhancing people-to-people links in the media sector.

A key element of the visit will be the 8th Australia-Indonesia Senior Editors Meeting on 27 May which will bring together senior editors from major print and broadcast media outlets in both countries to exchange views on bilateral and regional issues.

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said the visit underlined the importance of the media in strengthening bilateral relations and fostering mutual understanding.

“The Senior Editors Meeting provides a valuable and timely opportunity for senior media figures from Australia and Indonesia to exchange views on issues of importance to both countries,” said Ambassador Farmer.

The visit, from 25 to 30 May, is a flagship program of the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) with visits alternating between Australia and Indonesia over the last ten years.

The program also includes a visit to Yogyakarta to meet with organizations involved in community development and reconstruction.

Australia’s nine-member delegation is led by Greg Sheridan, Australian-Indonesia Institute Board member and Foreign Editor of The Australian newspaper and includes: Dennis Atkins (The Courier Mail), Geraldine Doogue (ABC Radio National and ABC Television), Greg Earl (Australian Financial Review), Alan Howe (The Herald Sun), Andrew Jaspan (The Age), Hamish McDonald, (Sydney Morning Herald), Glenn Stanaway (The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph) and Paul Whittaker (The Australian).

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175