This is the final in this year’s interviews exploring the career and life journey of women in the media industry. We will begin a second series next year. The aim of the series is to reflect on the wisdom they have gained during their journey.
So far we have had a cross section of women in different roles and career stages, the most recent articles on Millie Starling, Emma Lawson, Andrea Ho, Rachel Patterson, Erica McGee and Sharon Taylor the past features are listed below.
This week we profile, Citra Dyah Prastuti who has had a career as a journalist in Jakarta for 20 years and now works as editor-in-chief for KBR Media.
1. Describe your current professional life and your stage of life.
I’ve spent more than 20 years as a journalist and I literally grew up at KBR, the media organisation where I work. I started as a reporter, and now I’m the editor-in-chief.
The journey was not always a walk in a park, but I enjoyed every process of growing up, both success and failure.
Citra and KBR staff
2. How did you come to be in this industry?
I was a fresh graduate back then, and I was in the middle of a teacher’s training to become an English teacher, when my sister (who was a journalist) showed me a job ad at KBR68H. I didn’t know what it was then. My sister suggested that I apply for this job. She was familiar with KBR68H because she was doing her on-the-job training there, as part of her journey as a new reporter at Tempo Magazine (Tempo is a prominent political news magazine in Indonesia; KBR68H and Tempo have been good friends since the beginning).
There was no ambition whatsoever that drove me to be in the audio industry. Little did I know that I would be so interested in nailing the art of “writing for your ears” so deeply. I guess you can say that it’s an accident, but a happy one!
3. What are your core beliefs? How are your values evident in the work you do or the life you lead?
I believe, that by being in the media industry for so long, my values have strengthened. Through various discussions I’ve learned about inclusivity and it’s evident in our programs because our content carries these values too.
4. How did your education, formal and informal, enrich your career/ life journey?
I went through Mass Communication study for my Bachelor degree. I then took a year off for my Master’s degree in London, with a Chevening scholarship. I took an MA in Cultural Media and Critical Studies.
It was enlightening for me because my study allowed me to give a critical view towards my work.
Currently, I learn a lot through circumstances in life: as a media leader, as vice chairperson of a media association, and through networking. I’m part of the Women in News (WIN) Guild, facilitated by the WAN IFRA. WIN Guild is a network of women leaders in the media industry across the globe; Asia, Africa and Arab region.
Learning from the WIN Guild network feels like reading Harvard Business Review articles on leadership, and have colleagues who are the living examples of those readings.
5. What are some of your key decision change points and how did they shape your career/ life journey?
My husband always reminds me that “this is just a job” and he usually says this when I get so drowned with work and everything that follows. That sounds easy, that this is just a job, but it’s not easy for someone like me who literally grew up at the office. I know it’s not too healthy if I use my job as part of my identity, though sometimes I can’t help it.
I haven’t taken a break or tried something different in my career; but I know that I have a super positive growth mindset. I love learning new things, both related and unrelated directly to work.
I guess that’s how I take a break, by learning other things.
6. What makes you happy? What makes you get up in the morning?
When things are wild at the office, that is not my happy moment. I keep myself excited by continuously doing new things and experimenting with new ideas.
Citra (right) and her team celebrating winning an award at the Asia Podcast Awards.
7. Share your words of wisdom for others in the industry or those wishing to work in the industry?
I think my words of wisdom is what Dory from the “Finding Nemo” film would say: just keep swimming 😀
8. Describe your vision for the audio media industry in the near future.
I believe in strong storytelling and (audio) podcasts are the best avenue for that. Unfortunately the big wave of video podcasts in Indonesia is drowning the audio podcasts. I wish people will be more experimentalist and join us in the ride of audio narrative storytelling.
9. What role would you like to play in shaping the audio industry of the future?
I will continuously be endorsing long-form audio storytelling!
10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Whoa, you asked tough questions!!
Citra Dyah Prastuti at GIJC 2023
Series compiled by Serena Ahern for radioinfo.
If you have a suggestion for someone to be considered for this series next year, please send a note to serena@radioinfo.com.au
Previous articles in the 2025 series of Wisdom of Women in Media:
https://radioinfo.com.au/news/wisdom-of-women-in-media-sharon-taylor-chief-revenue-officer-triton-digital
Wisdom of Women in Media: Erica McGee, Group Content Director, Triple M & Hit
Wisdom of Women in Media: Rachel Patterson, General Manager, Geelong Broadcasters
Wisdom of Women in Media: Andrea Ho, Discipline Lead Radio & Podcasting, AFTRS
Wisdom of Women in Media: Emma Lawson, Platform Specialist, ABC
Wisdom of Women in Media: Millie Starling, Content Director & EP, SAFM
Wisdom of Women in Media: Archana Kapoor founder Radio Mewat
Wisdom of Women in Media: Justine Kelly, Manager Audio Output & Strategy, ABC International
Wisdom of Women in Media: Manpreet Kaur Singh, SBS Audio Program Manager
Wisdom of Women in Media: Cheryl Lee Co Founder and Manager Rebel Radio Network
Wisdom of Women in Media: Rebecca Ackland Chief People & Culture Officer SCA
Wisdom of Women in Media: Helen Tzarimas News Reader and Journalist Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Amanda Lee, Head of HIT Metro Content/Fox FM Content Director
Wisdom of Women in Media: Kim Napier, Breakfast Presenter ABC Northern Tasmania
Wisdom of Women in Media: Megan Smith, Senior Producer Gold 101.7
Wisdom of Women in Media: Laura Bouchet, Content Director Triple M
Wisdom of Women in Media: Lauren Joyce, Chief Audience & Content Officer ARN
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