Denny Januar Ali, known as Denny JA, was born on January 4, 1963 in Palembang (South Sumatra), Indonesia.
Denny JA was named by TIME Magazine in 2015 as one of the 30 most influential people on the Internet alongside other online media luminaries, such as US President Barack Obama, Argentine President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and renowned celebrities, such as Shakira, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber.
This honor recognized Denny’s outstanding role in mobilizing social media to influence and shape public opinion and surveys leading up to the 2014 Indonesian presidential election.[2].
In 2014, he was awarded by Twitter for the World’s No. 2 Golden Tweet, which was also No. 1 in Indonesia for that year.[3]
In the same year, Denny JA was selected by a team of eight prominent poets, critics, and academicians for inclusion in a special publication by the prestigious H B Jassin Foundation as one of the 33 most influential literary figures in modern Indonesian history.[4]
Denny also leads in political education for citizens in 34 provinces, specifically by advocating the tolerant values of Pancasila that President Soekarno had preached. The day before Indonesia’s Independence Day, on August 16, 2018, Denny JA and his public survey agency, the Indonesian Survey Circle, held a countrywide political education event; in doing so, Denny JA broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest political education event ever held.[5]
In recognition of his contributions to the literary world, Denny JA received the 2020 ASEAN Humanitarian and Diplomacy Literature award from the Malaysian Language and Literature Agency [6] and the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indonesian Writers Association (Satupena) for his dedication to and innovation in literature during the past 40 years. [7]
Denny JA is also an avid reader who has demonstrated leadership capabilities since childhood. Since his high school days, Denny JA has been fond of Michael H. Hart’s book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential People in History (1978). The steadfast pioneering spirit of the historical figures in this book inspired Denny to pursue excellence and create new culturally and socially valuable institutions in Indonesia’s conservative society.
Denny JA started his academic career as Executive Director of Jayabaya University, Jakarta (2000-2003).
He was also trusted as a host for political programs on Metro TV [8] and Radio Delta FM during the pivotal Reformation Era (2002-2004).[9] In addition, he served as a long-term columnist at nine national newspapers (1986-2005).[10]
Denny JA founded the Indonesian Public Opinion Survey Institute (2003), the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI, 2005), the Public Opinion Research Association (AROPI, 2007), and the Association of Indonesian Political Consultants (AKPI, 2009).[11]
Through these four organizations, Denny JA created a new tradition of Indonesian political consultancy and public opinion surveys.[12][13]
Denny JA: Education
1. Srata Satu Universitas Indonesia, Legal Studies, 1989
2. Master of Public Administration (MPA), University of Pittsburgh, United States, 1994
3. PhD in Comparative Politics and Business, Ohio University, United States, 2001