APPRI - Asosiasi Perusahaan Public Relations Indonesia

The history of Public Relations development in Indonesia conceptually happened in the 1950s. Its development in Indonesia follows the politics and statehood condition at that time. The PR expert agrees that PR authentically applied in Indonesia on 17th of August 1945. Following the flow of time, the government realized the need of people knowing the development regarding the recognition of Indonesia’s sovereignty by The Dutch Colony. At that time, Indonesia just moves its capital from Yogyakarta to Jakarta and the structural-functional reform of each element is on its way. Started from that assessment, PR activities began to institutionalize by using the term Hubungan Masyarakat (Humas) because of the nature of the activity itself is more outwards. In 1952, foreign company in Indonesia, Stanvac Indonesia (owned by Netherland-America) used PR to approach Indonesian government. Furthermore, on 1954 Garuda Indonesia Airways started to develop its own PR unit. Mabes Polri (Indonesian National Police) and various institutions follow suit since 1955. Pertamina is the first private company in Indonesia to have its own PR. In the 60s, the term ‘purel’ as the acronym of PR is more popularly used than ‘humas’. In 1962, the presidium of PM Juanda Cabinet instructed each institution to have its own PR Unit; this year is the beginning of PR development in Indonesia. With each company and institution realizing the functionality of PR to achieve their goal and as part of management strategy, the PR companies in Indonesia flourish, providing PR consultation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of PR activities. On 10th of April 1987, with the background to protect the Indonesian PR company to be able to serve as host in its own country, few PR figures who own their respective PR company; Inke Maris, Maria Wongsonagoro, Miranty Abidin, Edowati Sudjono, Srikandi Hakim, Sayono, Ida Sudoyo agreed to establish Indonesian PR Firm Association (APPRI).