An emphatic message of support for the future of printed newspapers – and of “the power of youth” – came on the final day of the SEANG conference in Jakarta from one of the industry's youngest senior executives.

Jawa Pos director and chief operating officer Azrul Ananda told how he became involved with the family publishing group only after telling his father its flagship title was boring.

After an exchange visit to the family of an American newspaper proprietor – and a marketing major at a Kansas college – he then took up his parents’ challenge to return to the Surabaya business.

Initially reluctant for fear of “wasting my youth”, he has since led a series of publishing innovations which have helped the group’s 150 regional newspapers to a leading readership position and record revenues. These include three pages for youth daily, sections for new families and over-50s, forums, ‘shopping lists’ and a strong community focus.

‘Pos’ was fundamental in establishing what is now Indonesia’s main basketball league, of which Ananda is a commissioner. It now has 24,400 participants.

“Indonesia is changing,” he says, “and with it, there are different media habits.

“We make sure people still read newspapers, by working harder. Print will live and thrive if you want it to be so.”

He attributes success “the power of youth” – new people bring new ideas and the group regularly “refreshes” is senior editors – and constant reinvention, and admits both he and his father are fans of music’s mistress of reinvention, Madonna.

“We like different songs, but we both like Madonna,” he says.

And that’s how it should be for newspapers.

• SEANG’s second day included presentations by Gaby van Deventer, production manager of Dutch contract printer F.D. Hoekstra Boom, and vendor representatives including Goss, ABB and Glunz & Jensen.

Time was also allotted for newspaper users to discuss issues of concern, and to lay plans for the future of the organisation and its next conference.

Anthony Cheng was confirmed as president for a second year.

He says the response from both vendor and newspaper colleagues has been overwhelming: “I am touched by their strong support and I hope SEANG has given them in return a productive and rewarding meeting and great networking opportunity.”

He says the committee is working on the next conference and – taking into consideration the positive feedback – hopes to make the 2011 conference even better.

• Full report in the next GXpress print edition.