Indonesiantalk.com — Stephanus Slamet Budi Rahardjo: Journalist, Media Leader, and Social Activist
On Google search, Stephanus Slamet Budi Rahardjo is better known by the name S.S. Budi Raharjo.
Today, beyond being the CEO of the print magazine Eksekutif, he also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Matra magazine and leads several verified online media outlets recognized by the Press Council.
Budi—familiarly known as Jojo—currently holds key positions as Chairman of the Digital Media Leaders Forum (2021–2026) and Chairman of the Indonesian Digital Media Association. He is also actively engaged in the National Cyber and Encryption Agency’s multistakeholder Cybersecurity Group.
A passionate mentor and coach, he often guides aspiring writers under the theme “writing is easy” and trains professionals in digital marketing, navigating the challenges of the digital economy era. Born in Purwokerto, Central Java, on September 7, 1968, Jojo has built a long and dynamic career in Indonesian media.
His early education began at SD Negeri Bidara Cina 01 (East Jakarta), followed by SMP Negeri 13 (South Jakarta) and SMA Negeri 29 Kebayoran Lama. He later earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universitas Krisnadwipayana (UNKRIS) in 1994. Pursuing further education, he completed his Master’s at STIE Bisnis Indonesia with distinction, defending his thesis on the influence of competence, discipline, and compensation on employee performance and loyalty in Eksekutif and Matra magazines.
While still in college, Jojo worked at the Tempo Group, contributing to in-house publications for the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Pasaraya Magazine, and Humor Magazine. Starting as a stringer journalist paid by honorarium, he eventually secured a full-time position at Matra—then under the Tempo Group—right after graduation.
From there, his career skyrocketed. Known for his idealism, strong work ethic, and loyalty, he rose through the ranks from reporter to managing editor, then to executive editor. Today, beyond his work at Matranews.id and Eksekutif.com, he also serves as Editor-in-Chief at Hariankami.com and Beritasenator.com.
Having passed the Press Council’s competency test as a Wartawan Utama (senior journalist), after previously holding Wartawan Muda and Wartawan Madya credentials, Jojo continues to remain active in civil society and democratization movements. He is also a social entrepreneur and anti-drug activist through the Ridma Foundation. Together with Ahwil Luthan, he once managed HealthNews Magazine, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
His activism dates back to the early days of anti-drug movements in Indonesia. As one of the pioneers of the Jakarta branch of the National Narcotics Board (BNN DKI), he was appointed Head of Prevention Division under Governor Sutiyoso’s leadership.
His dedication later earned him the trust of Brigadier General Ali Johardi, then Head of BNN DKI, as a communications consultant.
Remarkably, Jojo’s contribution to anti-drug efforts began even before BNN was formally established—supporting NGOs combating drug abuse when the issue was still under Bakin (State Intelligence Agency) and Bakalok Inpres.
By 2002, he was officially appointed as consultant at the central BNN office. In 2008, he became Editor-in-Chief of Sinar BNN, a government magazine that won second place for best state publication in Indonesia.
Alongside journalism, Jojo was also entrusted as Special Staff for Communications under Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro during his tenure as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (2000–2009).
He has also contributed to books, including “Bukan Puntung” (the biography of former TNI Chief of Staff General Soeyono) and “Kasal Kedua dari Tanah Pasundan” (the biography of the Navy Chief of Staff from West Java). Currently, he is preparing a new book titled “Investigation: Journalist or Intelligence?”
Never far from education, Jojo frequently coaches writing workshops for functional career advancement (jabfung) and trains feature-writing skills for professionals in government ministries, corporations, and even ambassadors stationed worldwide.
