- This series features interviews with Mongabay leaders about their personal and professional journeys, beginning with Ridzki Sigit, Program Director of Mongabay Indonesia.
- Ridzki joined Mongabay when it was a novel concept in Indonesia, helping transform it into one of the country’s most influential environmental news platforms since its 2012 launch.
- With a background in forestry and documentary filmmaking, Ridzki brought storytelling and environmental expertise to Mongabay, leading investigations that have influenced policy and spotlighted urgent conservation issues.
- He emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and local empowerment, viewing environmental journalism as both a mission and legacy to protect Indonesia’s biodiversity for future generations.
When Ridzki Sigit first encountered the idea of joining Mongabay, we had yet to establish a presence in the language of his native Indonesia. The prospect was novel, even daunting: a remote, international team with no physical office, focused solely on environmental coverage — a relatively niche field in Indonesia’s media landscape at the time. Yet, Ridzki saw opportunity where others might have hesitated. More than a decade later, as Mongabay Indonesia’s program director, he finds himself at the helm of one of the country’s most influential environmental news outlets, one whose impact stretches far beyond the archipelago’s shores.
Launched in 2012, Mongabay Indonesia was envisioned as a vehicle to increase transparency and accountability in Indonesia’s fraught forest sector. As its founder, I believed fervently in the power of journalism driven by local voices—journalism that would resonate deeply by communicating in Bahasa Indonesia and that would prompt genuine policy changes and community empowerment. Within months of its inception, the platform had secured a prominent place among Indonesian-language media, quickly becoming indispensable reading even for the nation’s policymakers.
Ridzki’s own journey into journalism was nontraditional. Trained originally in forestry and later management, he spent his early career researching natural resources and creating documentary films with Perkumpulan Telapak, a prominent Indonesian environmental NGO. His role at Telapak and its production arm, Gekko Studio, laid a foundation for his storytelling instincts and deepened his connection to environmental issues—passions he brought directly into Mongabay.
Under his leadership, Mongabay Indonesia has become a remarkable success story. With a lean core team and an extensive network of more than 70 contributors spread throughout the country, the outlet has published more than 25,000 stories, videos, and podcasts. Its investigations have led to measurable impacts, from exposing corrupt land deals involving powerful agribusiness interests in Papua to bringing international attention to critical threats facing iconic species like the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus). Ridzki points proudly to the role Mongabay has played in mobilizing support for Indigenous communities and protecting vulnerable ecosystems.
Looking ahead, Ridzki sees even greater possibilities. He emphasizes creativity, passion, and collaboration as foundational values, underscoring the importance of fostering a motivated and connected team. His leadership style, blending professional rigor with genuine personal connections, aims to cultivate a resilient and dedicated network of environmental journalists poised to address Indonesia’s myriad ecological challenges.
Today, Ridzki remains as passionate as ever, both personally and professionally. When not coordinating teams and investigative reports, he spends time diving and documenting Indonesia’s extraordinary marine biodiversity—another reflection of his lifelong dedication to nature. His work at Mongabay, he says, is more than just journalism. It is a mission, a legacy, and a responsibility to future generations, including his own daughter, to protect Indonesia’s irreplaceable natural treasures.
AN INTERVIEW WITH RIDZKI SIGIT
Rhett Ayers Butler for Mongabay: To start, could you please introduce yourself and your position at Mongabay?
Ridzki Sigit: I joined Mongabay in 2012 as the program manager for the Indonesia Bureau. Now, after nearly 12 years, I continue to manage the bureau as the program director. I really enjoy it because the organization is strong, and our team has grown and evolved together over time.
Mongabay: What does your day-to-day work at Mongabay look like?
Ridzki Sigit: My main role involves coordinating our staff and contributors. I ensure that all of our Indonesian staff are supported and able to perform their jobs effectively. A significant part of my work is maintaining a strong and cohesive team.
Mongabay: What did you do before you joined Mongabay?
Ridzki Sigit: Before Mongabay, I worked for an NGO called Perkumpulan Telapak, where I conducted research on natural resources and produced documentary film projects, primarily focused on the forest sector.
Rhett Butler: How did you first get into journalism?
Ridzki Sigit: Prior to joining Mongabay, I led an organization called Gekko Studio, which operated under Telapak. I managed the video production team, and that’s when I began working in journalism — primarily producing videos and documentaries.
Mongabay: What was going through your mind when you applied for the Mongabay Indonesia position, especially since it didn’t even exist yet?
Ridzki Sigit: It’s an interesting story. Looking back, it was quite a surprise for me. When I met with you, the working style you proposed was very different from my previous experiences. At Mongabay Indonesia, there was no physical office; staff were spread across different cities. It was a new and different way of working. The opportunity to work with an international, virtual organization like Mongabay was exciting. Even though Mongabay didn’t yet have a presence in Indonesia and was based in the United States, I saw it as both a challenge and an opportunity. Indonesia faces many environmental issues, and there was a real need for more environmental journalism. I was excited to help fill that gap.
Mongabay: Were you familiar with Mongabay before you applied?
Ridzki Sigit: A little bit—but I wasn’t a regular reader. I knew Mongabay existed and was doing good work on environmental issues, but I wasn’t what you’d call a hardcore follower.
Mongabay: What’s your educational background?
Ridzki Sigit: I earned my bachelor’s degree in forestry. Later, I completed a master’s degree in management. Journalism became part of my professional experience through my work in video and documentary production. My doctoral research focused on Mongabay Indonesia and your profile as the founder of Mongabay. Mongabay is particularly interesting to study in terms of the media economic landscape, the tug-of-war of political interests, and the continuous development of multimedia technology.
Mongabay: What do you like to do in your free time?
Ridzki Sigit: In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, watching movies, and reading books. Diving is one of my favorite hobbies.
Mongabay: What do you most enjoy about your work at Mongabay?
Ridzki Sigit: I really enjoy the freedom to be creative at Mongabay. If you have passion, you can explore many areas related to environmental issues—not just journalism, but also photography, video production, interviewing people, building networks, and more. Mongabay gives you room to explore your creativity while making a difference.
Mongabay: Why do you care about the issues Mongabay covers?
Ridzki Sigit: Since I was young, I’ve been close to nature. I joined a nature club at university, where we visited forests and mountains. I’ve always loved animals—I even have eight pet cats at home. Environmental issues have been part of my daily life for as long as I can remember. That’s why I feel deeply connected to Mongabay’s mission.
Mongabay: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work?
Ridzki Sigit: I’m really proud of Mongabay. It’s become a model for the future of environmental journalism worldwide. I feel fortunate to have been part of Mongabay from the beginning, and I’m proud of everything we’ve built. I’m also very happy to see how much Mongabay has grown. We now have more staff and many contributors, and I feel inspired by them—by our whole team. Even though we have about 10 core staff, we work with around 70 contributors across Indonesia. I believe Mongabay Indonesia will continue to grow even stronger in the future.
Mongabay: Is there a specific project or story you’re particularly proud of?
Ridzki Sigit: There are many, but a few stand out. One is our story about the Aru Islands, a group of islands in the Maluku region with intact forests. At the time, they faced serious threats of deforestation. Our reporting helped raise awareness about Aru’s situation and supported the local and Indigenous communities proudly protecting their forests.
Another story I’m proud of is about the Javan rhino. We were one of the first media outlets to conduct field investigations into illegal activities threatening the species. Our coverage brought significant attention to the urgent need for their protection.
Then there’s our coverage of ocean issues—highlighting the severe challenges facing our marine environments—which I really enjoyed working on.
Mongabay: What is something you’re excited about right now?
Ridzki Sigit: Right now, I’m getting more serious about diving. I just bought new diving gear and a camera. There’s so much potential to explore underwater life. Indonesia is fortunate—we have incredibly beautiful marine environments, and I want to discover and document more of them. As a diving enthusiast, I’m continually amazed by the richness of our seas and their biodiversity.
Mongabay: What do you look for when building a team?
Ridzki Sigit: First, I look for people who are genuinely interested in environmental issues—people who love nature. Over the past 12 years, I’ve learned that the team members who stay with Mongabay are the ones who truly care about the environment. That’s the foundation I look for. Professional skills are important too, of course, but passion comes first. I want people who are excited to work as part of a team—people who want to explore, learn, and contribute. For me, loving nature is the highest qualification.
Mongabay: What lessons have you learned since starting Mongabay Indonesia?
Ridzki Sigit: One important lesson is the value of personal relationships within the team. Purely professional relationships aren’t enough—personal connections matter too. I know about my staff’s families, their passions, and their dreams. That understanding is essential for building a strong, cohesive team. Since we’re spread across Indonesia, it’s also important to meet in person at least once a year—not just over Zoom—to really strengthen our bonds.
Mongabay: What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar path?
Ridzki Sigit: The most important thing is to work with passion. If you have passion, you’ll enjoy your work and feel at home there. You’ll keep learning and honing your skills. Right now, many staff members at Mongabay Indonesia already see me as a mentor. We have different generations—people in their 40s, 30s, and 20s—each with their own personalities and approaches. Building personal relationships across generations is important. It’s also critical to prepare the next generation to eventually step into leadership roles.
Mongabay: What motivates you?
Ridzki Sigit: My motivation goes beyond just professional work. It’s about protecting nature and sharing important stories with others—it’s a form of responsibility. There are many interconnected issues—not just environmental, but also political and economic—because policies deeply affect the environment. We’re working at the frontier of environmental journalism. Few media outlets maintain a consistent focus on environmental and nature issues the way Mongabay does.
That’s a big motivation for me. Indonesia faces enormous challenges: deforestation, Indigenous peoples’ rights, ocean health, pollution, and more. As the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is extremely vulnerable—some islands could disappear underwater by 2050 due to climate change. There’s so much work to be done. I also want to set a good example for younger generations, including my daughter—to show her what it means to do meaningful work. I want to leave a positive legacy.
Header image: Ridzki Sigit and Rhett Butler in Jambi in 2022. Drone selfie.
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