What Tirto ID does

Tirto ID (operating legally as PT. Tirta Adi Surya) is an Indonesian independent digital news publisher founded in 2016 and headquartered in Jakarta. The company runs tirto.id, a multi-format national news platform covering Indonesian politics, law, economics, social culture, environment, education, health, technology, and lifestyle, organized into more than fifteen distinct editorial programs such as Flash News, News Plus, Decode (data journalism), Mozaik (historical narrative), Horizon (field reporting), Perspektif (expert opinion), Wawancara Khusus (interviews), Miroso (culinary), and Mesin Waktu (archaeology). Its technology stack is described as a digital news publishing platform with fact-checking verification workflows and data journalism tools, without any explicitly disclosed proprietary technology components, and no mobile app store presence is indicated.

The company's flagship credibility products are its IFCN-certified Periksa Fakta fact-checking program and its wholly-owned Diajeng (diajeng.id) sub-brand targeting female readers with lifestyle and empowerment content. It also runs an Inception educational program that delivers free Kelas Tirto data journalism workshops at universities across Java with support from MSI Indonesia and Kominfo, and a Jangkar (Jaringan Kolaborasi Akar) grassroots collaboration network with 60 local Instagram City Info accounts that extends content and fact-check distribution to an estimated 3.62 million readers. The Periksa Fakta program is anchored by IFCN and AMSI Trusthworthy certifications.

Commercially, Tirto.id earns revenue primarily through digital advertising (display and sponsored content on tirto.id), a Rilis Pers (Press Release) section reselling PR Newswire corporate communications, and a freemium membership on annual billing that unlocks dark mode and large text reading features. Public pricing is not disclosed. Distribution combines the owned tirto.id website, Google News placement, and broad social media presence across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and two dedicated WhatsApp channels (TirtoID and Cek Fakta). The company operates under a horizontal segmentation approach serving general Indonesian readers as the primary segment, with female, data-literate, and research-oriented audiences as secondary segments.

Name

Tirto ID

Legal name

PT. Tirta Adi Surya

Website

https://tirto.id

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tirto ID (PT. Tirta Adi Surya) is an Indonesian independent digital news publisher operating tirto.id, delivering in-depth reporting, IFCN-certified fact-checking, data journalism, and grassroots content distribution across a network of 60 partner local media accounts reaching an estimated 3.62 million readers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jakarta

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital advertising: Tirto.id operates a digital news website that generates revenue through display advertising, sponsored content slots, and standard ad placements alongside editorial content. The site also hosts a Rilis Pers (press release) section sourced from third parties.
2. Press release / PR content hosting: The Rilis Pers section publishes press releases from third-party companies and organizations (e.g., PR Newswire content), generating revenue through sponsored/paid placement of corporate communications.
3. Membership / subscription: Tirto.id offers a paid membership program that provides features such as dark mode and large text. Members are required to agree to the Privacy Policy upon registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Tirto.id is an Indonesian digital news platform that publishes multi-format editorial content across politics, law, economy, social culture, technology, environment, and lifestyle through themed programs (Flash News, News Plus, Decode, Mozaik, Horizon, Perspektif, Wawancara Khusus). It operates an IFCN-certified fact-checking program (Periksa Fakta), a data journalism program (Decode), and a women's lifestyle sub-brand (Diajeng). The company monetizes through digital advertising, paid press release hosting (Rilis Pers), and an optional paid membership unlocking dark mode and large text reading features.

Product overview

Tirto.ID is an Indonesian digital news platform operated by PT. Tirta Adi Surya featuring a multi-format content architecture. The core platform offers news programs including Flash News (breaking news), News Plus (in-depth analysis), Decode (data journalism), Mozaik (historical narratives), Horizon (field reporting), Perspektif (expert opinions), and Wawancara Khusus (exclusive interviews). The bisnis segment encompasses Insider (economy), Side Job (workplace issues), Gearbox (automotive), Byte (technology), Edusains (education), GWS (health), and TirtoEco (environment). Visual content is served through Video, VidPro (short-form), Esai Foto (photo essays), and Infografik. Specialized programs include Periksa Fakta (IFCN-certified fact-checking), Kueri (science experiments/research), and Inception (journalism training). The Diajeng sub-brand targets female audiences, while Jangkar provides grassroots media collaboration. The #PikirDuaKali initiative partners with TikTok for scam prevention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Periksa Fakta: Fact-checking program and part of IFCN (International Fact-Checking Network)
• Diajeng
• Jangkar
• Kueri
• Inception
• Tirto Weekly

Products and services

• Tirto.id News Platform Multi-format Indonesian digital news platform providing free editorial content across politics, law, economy, social culture, technology, environment, and lifestyle topics. Operated by PT. Tirta Adi Surya, headquartered in Jakarta.
• Periksa Fakta (Fact-Checking Program)
• Diajeng (Women's Content Platform) Women's empowerment content vertical covering community engagement, lifestyle, beauty, relationships, careers, and personal development through sub-sections like Glow Guide, Relasi Rasa, Level Up, Caregiving, Binar, and Money Matters.
• Inception (Journalism Education Program) Digital literacy and data journalism training program featuring free Kelas Tirto workshops at universities on data journalism, infographic creation, and combating misinformation.
• Rilis Pers (Press Release Hosting) Press release aggregation section publishing third-party corporate and organizational press releases, sourced from PR Newswire. Generates revenue through sponsored/paid placement of corporate communications.
• Tirto Weekly Weekly news recap program summarizing major Indonesian and global news from the past week in a visual format.
• #PikirDuaKali (Anti-Scam Campaign) Public education campaign in partnership with TikTok Shop and Tokopedia to help users recognize and prevent online scams, featuring #BelanjaAman (Safe Shopping) safety guidelines.
• Jangkar (Grassroots Collaboration Network) Grassroots collaboration network (Jaringan Kolaborasi Akar) partnering with 60 local Instagram City Info accounts to distribute Tirto.id's fact-checking and news content at the community level across Indonesia.
• Tirto.id Membership Paid annual membership program providing enhanced reading features including dark mode and large text size for tirto.id readers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Jangkar network reaches 60 media outlets with estimated 3.62 million audience across Indonesia

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Instagram City Info Accounts (Jangkar Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJangkar (Jaringan Kolaborasi Akar) is a grassroots collaboration network between Tirto.id and 60 local Instagram City Info accounts across Indonesia. The network distributes Tirto.id's fact-checking content and news to grassroots audiences, with an estimated combined audience reach of 3.62 million people. This partnership extends Tirto.id's content distribution from metropolitan areas to regional Indonesia.
• TikTokflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTirto.id partners with TikTok on the #PikirDuaKali campaign, which aims to help users recognize and prevent online fraud. Tirto.id produces content under this campaign, with TikTok providing platform reach and promotional support to combat misinformation and scams on the platform.
• MSI IndonesiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMSI Indonesia supports the Inception program's Kelas Tirto (Tirto Class) data journalism roadshows at universities by providing prize sponsorships (doorprize MSI products) and event support. This partnership enhances the appeal of Tirto's educational events to student participants.
• Universitas Telkom (Telkom University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto roadshow event hosted at Telkom University Bandung in May 2024. MSI Indonesia provided doorprize support at the event. Students learned about data journalism, infographic creation, and combating misinformation.
• Universitas Brawijaya (UB) MalangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto roadshow hosted at UB Malang in collaboration with Tugujatim (tugujatim.com). Over 100 students participated in data journalism and infographic training.
• Universitas Negeri Malang (UM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto roadshow at Universitas Negeri Malang attended by more than 100 students. Content covered journalistic data research, visual infographics, and feature writing.
• Universitas Islam Malang (Unisma)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto roadshow at FEB Unisma provided inspiration for students to learn journalism. MSI Indonesia supported with doorprize products.
• Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto data journalism roadshow held at UGM Yogyakarta in February 2024, with MSI as event supporter. Students learned data journalism techniques.
• Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto data journalism roadshow held at FISHIPOL UNY Yogyakarta in February 2024, supported by MSI Indonesia.
• Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran (UPN) YogyakartaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelas Tirto data journalism roadshow hosted at UPN Yogyakarta in February 2024, the final stop of the Yogyakarta edition.
• Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika (Kominfo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKominfo participated in the Inception seminar titled 'Literasi Digital melalui Jurnalisme Berkualitas' (Digital Literacy through Quality Journalism) co-organized with Tirto.id and FISIPOL UGM in December 2023, focused on combating hoaxes through digital literacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TEMPO: TEMPO is one of Indonesia's most established independent investigative news outlets. Like Tirto, it emphasizes in-depth reporting, fact-checking, and award-winning journalism, competing for the same premium, brand-safe advertising and reader mindshare in Indonesian digital news.
• Kumparan: Kumparan is an Indonesia-focused digital news platform leveraging a contributor model and strong social distribution. It competes with Tirto for digital advertising and share of voice among Indonesian mainstream and younger digital audiences.
• Katadata: Katadata is an Indonesian data-driven digital media and research firm. Comparable to Tirto's Decode and Kueri programs, it monetizes through data journalism, syndicated research, and B2B insights, positioning it as a direct content-format peer.

Broad incumbents

• Kompas.com: Kompas.com is the digital flagship of the Kompas Gramedia group and one of the most trusted Indonesian news brands. It overlaps with Tirto on credible journalism but sits in the broad incumbent bracket given its legacy scale and diversified media operations.
• Liputan6.com: Liputan6.com is part of the Elang Mahkota Teknologi (Emtek) media group and runs across web, TV, and digital. It competes with Tirto for digital ad budgets and general news audience share but with far broader distribution as a multi-platform incumbent.
• CNN Indonesia: CNN Indonesia is a major mainstream digital news outlet and a division of Trans Media. It overlaps with Tirto on general news coverage but operates at significantly larger scale and brand recognition, putting it in broad incumbent territory.
• Detik.com: Detik.com is the largest Indonesian online news portal. While functionally comparable to Tirto in publishing news and advertising, Detik's scale, brand, and ad inventory advantages put it firmly in the broad incumbent category.

Emerging players

• Project Multatuli: Project Multatuli is an Indonesia-based independent investigative journalism outlet. It overlaps with Tirto on long-form, fact-driven reporting but is smaller and NGO-funded, making it an emerging niche peer rather than a direct-scale competitor.
• Narasi: Narasi is an Indonesian digital media outlet focused on narrative journalism, video, and explanatory content. Its video-first, social-native approach competes for the same younger Indonesian audiences that Tirto targets through VidPro and Kueri.

Regional players

• Malaysiakini: Malaysiakini is Malaysia's leading independent digital news outlet. While operating in a different geography, its similar positioning as an independent, credible, IFCN-adjacent fact-checking-aware outlet makes it a useful regional analogue for Tirto's model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tirtoid
• YouTubeyoutube.com/tirtoid
• Facebookfacebook.com/tirtoid
• LinkedInid.linkedin.com/company/tirto
• Instagraminstagram.com/tirtoid
• TikToktiktok.com/@officialtirtoid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tirto ID