Helmi Johannes started his career as a radio broadcaster for Geronimo FM based in Yogyakarta, before moving to Jakarta to join RCTI, the first private television network in Indonesia. In 1989, Helmi Johannes helped found "Seputar Indonesia" (then "Seputar Jakarta"), the first newscast ever carried by an Indonesian private station. During his career with RCTI, Helmi Johannes served as reporter, producer, newscaster and news production manager. Helmi had also produced Indonesia's first late-night newscast "Buletin Malam" (1991) and also "Indonesia Today", the first English-language newscast aired by RCTI (1996–1999).