Surat Kabar Deli Courant di Sumatera Timur (1885-1940)

Abstract

This research discusses the history of the Deli Courant newspaper in East Sumatra during the period 1885–1942. The aim of this study is to explain the background behind the establishment of Deli Courant in East Sumatra and to examine its development over time. This newspaper was the first Dutch-language printed media published in East Sumatra and became a pioneer in the growth of the colonial press in the region. The study employs the historical method, which includes the stages of heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Data were collected through online archival research, including issues of Deli Courant from 1885 to 1940 preserved in colonial archives, as well as through library research.The findings indicate that Deli Courant emerged from the need for communication in the rapidly developing plantation region of Deli at the end of the 19th century. The newspaper functioned as an information medium for the European community and the colonial government, while also serving as an advertising platform for plantation companies during the colonial period. Over time, Deli Courant underwent an organizational transformation into a legally incorporated company (Naamloze Vennootschap, N.V.), with a more professional editorial structure and a wide distribution network that extended beyond the Dutch East Indies.The topics covered in the newspaper were not limited to plantation activities but also included politics, social issues, and the dynamics of colonial society. However, by the late 1930s, Deli Courant began to decline due to changing socio-political conditions and eventually ceased publication in 1940. The results of this study show that Deli Courant played an important role as a medium of communication, a tool of colonial propaganda, and a significant part of the press development and social history of East Sumatra.