The Profile of Talkshow and Resonansi

CRCS (Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies) is involved not only in academic settings but also in social ones that attract a wider audience, such as the Resonance Talk show program. Resonance Talk show is used to discuss Religion and society. The objective of the program is to improve teaching strategies; to run dialogs, and to stimulate social transformation. The reason why such media---i.e., talk show was nominated---because it is considered essential to provide dialog among religious and community leaders, and decision makers to encourage respect towards diversity, and to prevent sectarian issues that have recently emerged in the politically tense religious context.

In producing the Resonance program, CRCS in cooperation with media companies, uses television, radio and newspapers to serve a wider audience to achieve productive social transformation, and develop a democratic society. These media provide the society a possible direct participation to involve discussions on current social problems and to develop a criticism in searching for open religious values and dialog.

The Asia Foundation (TAF) has funded these programs since 2003. But, in 2006 they experienced a significant change. Their performance has been more developed and their system has been more manageable. For example, in 2003, the talk show took place at the Jogya TV station every month where it produced an article to be published in the editorial of Radar Jogja newspaper. In 2006, the talk show has been broadcast both to the Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) and the Jogya TV and it has been published in the editorial of the Radar Jogja. The audience has rocketed from just 4900 in 2003 to 44.239.900 in 2006.

One of advantages of media usage is CRCS can involve the central RRI of Jakarta which connects to 58 substations scattered across the country. Generally, the RRI has both urban and the rural audience with diverse backgrounds. The RRI can reach the audience who live in the remote areas, and can reach all strata of society.

Audience with telephone callers always responds the Resonance very enthusiastically. Sometimes, when many callers want to join the discussion, the production crew cannot serve their calling at immediate time as they give priority for speakers to explore their ideas. This shows that Resonance attracts attention from a wide audience. The callers are heterogeneous in terms of geographic location, both from inside and outside Java.

The resonance program, according to the survey, has the significant impact in improving the understanding of audience about democracy, pluralism, tolerance, development of inclusive attitudes, and encouraging the audience to get involved in social activities. Based on the success of the program during the first half year, it has a bright future. This vision is supported by the fact that the program is always run on time as is scheduled. This condition relates to strong hand-in-hand among the program committee as well as the support from the stakeholders, such as TAF, the RRI, the Jogja TV, Radar Jogja and the audience.

Program Objectives

The program has formulated four objectives:

• Encourage respect towards diversity as social capital in order to prevent consequences that will rise from religious, social, and human conflict.
• Spread ideals of religious tolerance in the society; push dialog and seek for social transformation to develop a democracy through media.
• Provide spaces for dialog among religious and community leaders who play roles in decision-making.
• Invite community participation to discuss current issues related to Islamic teachings.

Programs

As the agreement has been made between TAF and CRCS, the program has been mainly developed in three points:

A. Live-Resonance Program: Religious and Cultural Talk Show across Indonesia

Spreading discourse on religion in Indonesia and creating conditions for social transformation is to develop democratic society. In order to achieve the objective, CRCS has worked with RRI to produce Resonance: Religious and Cultural Talk Show. The RRI is a national radio that has wider audience. It has 57 substations across the country. To successfully reach the audience ---CRCS in collaboration with the RRI Pro-3 Jogja--- always host a talk show at the studio 2 of the Jogja TV, and then relied directly to the central RRI of Jakarta.

The program ---live broadcasted--- has involved an interactive dialog with audience. In other words, the dialog is a tele-discussion with audience outside the studio. Resonance is held on Thursday at the second and fourth week every month for 50 minutes from 10.10:11.00 p.m. This is a suitable time for the RRI as it receives much audience.

B. Delayed Broadcast: Religious and Cultural Talk Show at the Jogja TV

While broadcasting live-talk show in daytime, the Jogya TV also does the same program in the afternoon--- a delayed program. This gives Yogyakarta residents and those in other regencies in Central java more opportunities to watch the program. It is broadcast on the same days as the live show from 6.00 to 7.00 in the evening.

Television has an important meaning for the residents of Yogyakartan and those in the regencies of Central Java . Those who cannot follow the live-talk show of resonance in the daytime may have it in the afternoon. This is always held at 18:00 P.M. to 19:00 P.M. as the prime time for the audience. For the residents who live in regencies near the province can follow the program too before starting other activities, such as social and religious ones outside their homes. At the moment, most of them stay home and watch television or listen to the radio. The teamwork or crews of the production frequently receive the short message (SMS) or calls from colleagues who are very enthusiastic watching this broadcast on the television.

C. Religious and Cultural Resonance on the Editorial at Radar Jogja Newspaper