The culture agency in Yogyakarta is set to publish a free Javanese tabloid next month.

Titled Jawacana, tempo.co reported that the tabloid targeted youths in Yogyakarta, as it uses Jawa ngoko (an informal Javanese language).

The 16-page tabloid will contain various articles, varying from main features, social issues, photo essays, short stories to an introduction on Javanese letters, etymology and Javanese horoscope.

Furthermore, the agency also welcomes students from junior high schools, senior high schools and universities to submit their photos or articles to the tabloid. Published contents will receive a fee from the agency.

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The agency’s head of Javanese literature, Drihardono, said the quarterly tabloid would be distributed to youths' center of activities, such as cafes and schools.

Meanwhile, the agency’s staff for literature, Vishnu Satyagraha, explained that Jawacana aimed to provide young people with reading material in Javanese as well as to preserve the language.

Prior to this, Yogyakarta’s culture agency published a Javanese tabloid called Sempulur. However, since Sempulur used Jawa kromo (a more formal level of Javanese language), the media only catered to a specific audience.

In 2016, the agency also tried to change Sempulur's  format to Jawa ngoko, however the move drew protests from the tabloid's loyal readers, leading the agency to create Jawacana for younger audiences. (jes/wng)