Writing a Compelling Narrative on Aceh
Tempo magazine reporter spends a year in devastated province, writes story about recovery, charity fatigue and reconstruction
It doesn’t take an expert to speak honestly about what’s happening in Aceh a year after the disastrous earthquake and tsunami struck the territory.
Mardiyah “Diyah” Chamim has proven this — although now she’s a bit of an expert herself.
The Tempo magazine reporter had never set foot in Aceh or written about a national disaster before; usually covering what she calls “soft” news — like health stories and social issues.
However, after nearly a year in Aceh, Diyah has written a fascinating story about Aceh’s struggle to get back on its feet — Sejarah Tumbuh di Kampung Kami (History Grows in Our Kampung).
“I cannot give something beautiful enough to those who lost their loved ones, so the writing in this book is dedicated to them. These are their stories: What I’ve seen, what I’ve heard, what I’ve felt and what I’ve pondered during my stay in Aceh and Nias,” she said.
For Diyah, a reporter with Tempo magazine, getting to the province as a journalist was a struggle.
“I knew from the time the tsunami struck that I would never be assigned there because there are reporters that are well-known specialists in Aceh-related issues,” she said.
Wartawan Tempo sejak 1998. Menjelajah berbagai desk, antara lain ekonomi, nasional, kesehatan, sains, gaya hidup, dan investigasi. Sejak Januari 2009 ditugasi menjadi Direktur Eksekutif Institut Tempo, sebuah lembaga yang dicita-citakan menjadi pusat pengembangan jurnalistik di Indonesia. Lulusan Fakultas Biologi, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, tahun 1996. Setelah lulus kuliah, bergabung dengan Majalah Warta Ekonomi (1996) sebagai staf riset dan kemudian menjadi reporter di majalah Panji Masyarakat (1997).