There are loads of blogs written in English in Indonesia and all are eligible for the Asia Blog Award - Indonesia category - if nominated. (So, get to it.)As a judge, I think it's only fair to give a few of the criteria that I will be on the lookout for.
1. Reasonable English.
It isn't important that there's perfect syntax, grammar and stuff, but the message should be clear and understandable.
2. Of Wide Interest
There are many blogs written specifically for a circle of friends or family. Where, for example, these comment on student assignments or shopping purchases, they are of little interest to those of us outside that particular circle.
This is not intended as a criticism. Far from it. Given the stifling of self expression under Suharto, every effort at communication through writing is to be encouraged and positively applauded. The growth of literacy is a fundamental key to reformasi.
3. A recognisable voice.
This could be a particular viewpoint consistently stated.
Examples:
Jakarta Casual ~ writing about Indonesia's football scene
Rasyad A Parinduri and the group Café Salemba who write about economics.
Treespotter ~ A distinctive 'character' chronicling his life and an active commentator on other blogs in the Indonesian blogosphere.
4. A 'member' of the Indonesian blogosphere
Given that blogging is a relatively new form of expression and that here in Indonesia the very notion of a free press and free speech is open to debate ~ or vandalism, hate mail and violence, even murder ~ then I believe that the blogosphere has a responsibility to be both responsible and supportive.
Many of my links are to folk who have dropped by Jakartass, for which I thank you. Similarly, you'll have noticed that I've left comments and questions on other blogs. Debates have been started, information and links have been exchanged and together we have grown and learned.
Some older sites have adopted blog software in order to interact with their readers.
Examples:
Paras Indonesia, a group effort which offers articles about current affairs in both English and Indonesian .
Wimar Witoelar - the TV talk show host and formerly President Gus Dur's official spokesman.
5. A service to the wider community
Examples:
Blog Indonesia ~ Capturing the face of Indonesia one blog at a time ~ is an aggregator of, currently, 1146 blogs. They (we) get ranked according to number of hits, number of posts and other statistical stuff. It won't win an award, unless there's one for software excellence.
Indonesia Matters, which offers several posts a day on current issues. Virtually an online newspaper.
6. Special Categories
There is a category of Photoblog in which Java Jive and Eric Setiawan could both do well.
Maybe we can think of other categories at Friday's Blogfest. The following bloggers have indicated their intentions for the evening.
Will be there
Marek
Indcoup
Geoffrey MG
The Reveller
Gary - Jak Chat
May be there
Java Jive
Won't be there
Indonesian Anonymus - still in Yogya
Jakarta Guru - getting married the next day (which is a poor excuse!)
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Tiara Lestari is now regularly blogging in Indonesian so, unfortunately, is ineligible for an Asia Blog Award this year. Her English blog, rarely updated, is now here.
Finally, in researching Jalan Jaksa I found this site which BagPackers (sic) may find useful.
