Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Suara Timor Lorosae Corporation (STL Corp.)
The Daily Newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae (STL) is a newspaper re-established in Dili on 31st of July 2000 as rebirth of the Daily Newspaper, Suara Timor Timur (STT). STT was first private, independent, and professional newspaper that published in East Timor. First edition of STT was printed on 1st of February 1993 at the same date of the first day of trial of Xanana Gusmão (Timorese National Resistance Leader, would later become The First President of East Timor) in the Dili Court.
STT coverage on Xanana Gusmão’s trial in the Dili Court has mentioned in the report of UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali to general Assembly. In the report, Mr. Boutros Ghali stated that “the trial has received extensive coverage in the new local media in Dili, Suara Timor Timur (STT).
The last edition of newspaper was September 3, 1999 and fully stopped it’s publication on 4 September 1999 due to the massive looting, destruction and burnt down by the Indonesia back militias following Timor Leste post referendum. Consequently, all facilities of the newspaper such as building, printing and preprinting machines, thousands tons of news print and other facilities were totally destroyed and burnt down.
Convergence of printing media and electronic media are imperative in response to the public demand to involve and obtain easy, quick and comprehensive information. To achieve, and inline with the era of multimedia, digital and multi-platform journalism, the management has established electronic media. The implication of establishment of electronic media is the organization and structure of STL has to change to holding organization of media. Suara Timor Lorosae Corporation (STL Corp.) name that decide at management meeting at Maubara (Casa Retiro) February 2012, which now consists of the STL Newspaper, STL TV, STL Radio, STL Online & Social Media, Salvador Training Institute (STI), Creativeast (documentation services for event, etc), and OQIENUM, LDA. (Printing).
As institution of media and business, STL Corp. shall have responsibility to the society in future in the line of corporate social responsibility, and Timor Tatoli Naroman Foundation as part of group will have this role. Dreams ahead are STL Corporation became a leading of the industry of information and lay down the foundation for industry of knowledge in this country of the rising sun.
The STL Corporation motto: Shaping a Better Future for the New Society
The STL management team commits to continuously improve professional quality of human resources for journalist and staffs. Standard for journalist are to achieve multi-platform of journalist that able to write and report to newspaper, TV, radio, and online. STL developing training to the journalist and staffs base on two approaches such as formal training in the class and internship training.
Such approach has shows good results. STL has sent journalist and staffs to undertake formal trainings in its partner institutions such as the DR Soetomo Press Institute (LPDS) and Institute of Training Management (LPPM) Jakarta. Internship programs has conducted at the daily newspaper Kompas, the daily Tempo and the Tempo Magazine Jakarta, the daily newspaper Pikiran Rakyat in Bandung, and the daily newspaper Radar Bali.
In accordance with developments of Information Technology that has implication to the media convergence has a direct influence to media running management and change the demand of information from the people. The public are very keen to actively involve and quickly obtain information on the real time of the events. Suara Timor Lorosae as a pioneer media has obligation to implement the requirements of the evolution and transformation of this age of media. In that line, STL has established electronic media.
Organization and structure of Suara Timor Lorosae has to change to Corporate that named Suara Timor Lorosae Corporation (STL Corp.) which consist from newspaper Suara Timor Lorosae as pioneer in the corporate along with STL TV, STL Radio, STL Online & Social Media, Salvador Training Institute (STI), Creativeast (documentation services for event, etc), and OQIENUM, LDA. (Printing). Such approach has shows good results. STL has sent journalist and staffs to undertake formal trainings in its partner institutions such as the DR Soetomo Press Institute (LPDS) and Institute of Training Management (LPPM) Jakarta. Internship programs has conducted at the daily newspaper Kompas, the daily Tempo and the Tempo Magazine Jakarta, the daily newspaper Pikiran Rakyat in Bandung, and the daily newspaper Radar Bali.
As pioneer STL commits to consistently implements requirements of the developments in this age of multimedia and digital. On the occasion of commemoration 15th anniversary, February 1st 2008 the management decided to establish TV, radio and establish again online version.
In early August 2009, the transmitter of TV and radio assembled in Bandung, Indonesia has tested and ready for on air. On 6th August 2009, Deputy PM Jose Luis Guterres launched the TV and Radio experimental programs.
Despite facing the lack of human resources and equipment, on 22 of October 2009 PM Kayrala Xanana Gusmão officially inaugurated the STL TV and radio and STL entered in the age of electronic media. This event has marked a new phase in the world of broadcasting and STL TV become the first private and commercial channel in this country.
On May 2010, Embassy of United States of America has agree to provide fund to purchase the new transmitter for STL TV. The new transmitter has a power 1 kilowatt (1000 watts), OMB and Spanish made. Purchasing and delivery process and installation has finished by July 2011.
October 2011, New Zealand Embassy in Dili supported fund for purchasing internal communication, computer Mac Apple and software for live broadcast program and recording program and video camera. April 2012 President Ramos Horta assisted STL to purchase transmitters OMB Spain made for distrust of Baucau and Maliana.
Name: STL TV
Motto: “Hari’i Hodi Serbi” (Present to Serve)
STL TV cover all areas of Capital Dili and areas surrounding’s like Tibar, Hera, Dare and Balibar. By June 2012, STL TV is able to reach districts of Baucau and Maliana. Districts of Dili, Maliana and Baucau are the most populated area and hopefully will be more than a half of population of Timor Leste have access to STL TV.
Transmitter Power:
• Dili: 1 Kilowatt (1000 watts)
• Baucau: 300 watts
• Maliana: 300 watts
All STL TV transmitters are OMB Technology, Spain and Ultra High Frequency. STL TV can be accessed at a frequency of 623.25 MHz and currently is also on a digital platform (YouTube) with the channel name: STL (@STLTimorLeste).
Name: STL Radio
Motto: “Serbi Ita Nia Komunidade” (Serving Our Community)
STL Radio can be accessed at a frequency of 97.00 MHz and can reach the entire city of Dili.
The daily newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae is the rebirth of the daily Suara Timor Timur. Suara Timor Timur is the first and pioneer of private, independent and professional newspaper publish in this country. Suara Timor Lorosae is the same means as Suara Timor Timur. The main difference is the word Timur, which means East in Indonesian is changed to Lorosae in Tetum, which also the same mean as East in Timor Lorosae national language. Other change is on the top of the word “Suara” is inserted words A Voz de, which can be read as Suara Timor Lorosae or A Voz de Timor Lorosae or The Voice of East Timor. The word “Suara” remains because has well known and part of history of the paper. Many medias writers from national and international has recognized and serve Suara Timor Timur in the past as one of their sources of references.
The rebirth of the newspaper is to give a concrete contribution to accelerate and motivate the reconciliation process, which has become one of the important agendas for East Timorese leaders and the International Community in the early years of independence.
The re-publication of the newspaper also is intend to be the monument and respect to the struggle leaders, journalists, and staffs of Suara Timor Timur that young peoples with high enthusiasm, tireless, high dedication, and sacrifice their self to defend the principles of free and independent press under the Indonesian authority.
Hopefully this heroic and risky struggle and sacrifices could become the foundation for development of free and independent press in this country and do not be forgotten, as “like ashes in the territory that fly away by blows of wind in the summer or disappeared in the floods in the rainy season.”
The Motto of daily Suara Timor Lorosae is: “Guiding For The Free Society” (Mata Dalan Ba Sosiedade Livre) which reflects the intension of the newspaper to serve the people of Timor Leste as well as to play role as a guiding media to enlighten people based on mutual respect, democracy, human rights, tolerance and Timor Leste cultural values.
In the beginning it’s publication 1993, motto of Suara Timor Timur is Unity and Development (Persatuan dan Pembangunan). Later on according to the political situation, the motto has change to Voice of Truth and Justice (Menyuarakan Kebenaran dan Keadilan). At the time of STL re-publication use the motto Serve and Guide to the New Society.The Daily Newspaper Suara Timor Lorosae, has been placed as the leading newspaper in Timor Leste based on the following surveys and studies:
• The Asia Foundation and NGO Forum (2001): The daily newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae is the leading newspaper in Timor Leste.
• A. Lin Newman and Jean du Toit (2002): The daily newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae is the best media management in Timor Leste.
• The International Republican Institute (2004): The daily newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae is the most reading newspaper in Timor Leste.
• Hirondelle Foundation (2007): The daily newspaper, Suara Timor Lorosae is the most reading newspaper in Timor Leste.
The STL’s format is broadsheet 75 x 57 cm, 8 columns, bigger than STT which consists of 16 pages. This format has been used since 7th April 2002 following the procurement of GOSS Community Printing Machine jointly funded by Portuguese and Finish Government and STL.
The average daily production and circulation of the newspaper is 3,000 copies. But some times reach to 5.000 copies when there are hot issues or big political events. This includes 800 copies for the Timor Leste Government based on the agreement between the Government of Timor Leste and STL to distribute to the 442 village (suku) in Timor Leste. This helps to provide information to the rural community leader people.
