Maksum Nur Fauzan
Newspaper deliverymen or street sellers used to spearhead newspaper sales. These businesses flourished in accordance with the growth of the print mass media business.
However, as communication technology develops, people are obtaining information from their gadgets. This has led to the increasingly low interest of readers toward newspapers or printed mass media, making them the product of choice for only a few segments.
The situation, however, has not brought down the spirit of delivery men, such as Jaka Tri Atmaa, 57, Sarip, 42, Agus Sugiarso, 51, and Joko Tri Budiantoro, 39. They continue to work to provide for their families.
Jaka began his job in 1997, from delivering hundreds of copies per day to currently no more than 16. Thanks to his profession, he is able to pay for his children’s higher education.
Sarip started his job at a young age. Now that he has a family, he considers his job to be a source of blessings for his family. Back in the day, he was able to sell more than 150 copies per day. Now he is only able to sell around 30 copies.
Agus sometimes reminisces about the good old days, when he was able to sell 1,000 newspapers a day. Nowadays, the number has decreased to 200 copies.
Meanwhile, Joko, also known as Anton, who is disabled, started his profession only four years ago. He can be found selling newspapers in Surakarta.
As we face a more high-tech future, newspaper or print mass media will still have their loyal customers, though they are slowly turning into a klangenan (comfort) item. (kes)