French Language Koran, La Lorgnette, First Published In Batavia In History Today October 1, 1876

JAKARTA History today, 146 years ago, October 1, 1876, a French-speaking newspaper, La Lorgnette was first published in Batavia (now: Jakarta). The newspaper is planned to be published every Monday and Friday. The target is clear. The owner of the newspaper targets educated people who understand French in the Dutch East Indies.

Mainly for the people of France and Belgium in Batavia. Previously, the press industry in Batavia had been present since the 17th century. The goal is not only education, but also making the newspaper a historical documentation tool.

The press industry has been around since the 17th century in Batavia. The industry is an important part of the development of a city nicknamed the Queen of the East. However, the press industry is not a profitable business.

Each mass media company comes for specific readers. Not common. Mass media information in the early period of Dutch colonialism contains many developments abroad. Europe especially.

The segment was chosen so that the Europeans in Batavia could find out the news of their hometowns. These include news from the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain, to England. The industry grew rapidly. The toughness of the residents of Batavia for information is the estuary. Therefore, the existence of mass media is even more promising.

The mass media was able to watch out for the golden era of the Dutch trading airline VOC to the colonial government of the Dutch East Indies. The mass media is not only known as a mere mouthpiece of information. More than that, the mass media is considered like an important documentation tool in the archipelago.

Nevertheless, their goal is not just to make a profit. However, they have realized that the mass media in addition to being a means of delivering news to their readers and increasing knowledge, also have an important role in voicing the heart of certain governments, groups, and the people in general.

Moreover, the Dutch who always prioritize the importance of documentation, everything that happens in their ancestral country and in their colony, are always stored for various purposes. In other words, the press at that time has been seen as a means of documenting all events that occur in our country," said Akhmad Efendi in the book Perkembangan Pers di Indonesia(2020).

Types of newspapers spread across Batavia also vary in languages. Some speak Dutch, English, even French. The presence of the French-speaking newspaper, La Lorgnette is proof. The newspaper initiated by a man named Z. Berger-Deplace was first published on October 1, 1876.

The newspaper contains a lot of news in all theater shows in the Dutch East Indies. It contained in accordance with the owner's interest as a theater player. The markets that Berger wants to target are French and Belgians in Batavia.

The French-language drama La Lorgnette is published in Batavia every Monday and Friday, from October 1 1875 to February 25, 1876. This daily is printed in Ernst & Co. printing and sold for 50 cents. The reading comes from the educated class who read French writing and live in the Dutch East Indies.

But the newspaper does not live long: only 43 editions in his age have reached five months. The newspaper specifically contains things related to theater performances. It contains advertisements and theater performance reviews. So the media was read by public French users, especially French and Belgians in Batavia," explained historian Denys way. Bernard Dorleans wrote in the book Orang Indonesia & Orang Prancis (2006).