FWK Pertahankan 9 Februari sebagai HPN, Soroti Krisis Media dan Revisi UU Pers

National Coordinator of FWK Raja Parlindungan Pane (left) and Hendry CH Bangun. (IST)

JAKARTA - The National Journalists Forum (FWK) considers that the National Press Day (HPN) on February 9 must be maintained. FWK said the date was based on the history of the press struggle, not just coinciding with the birthday of the organization.

One of the founders of FWK, Hendry CH Bangun, said the lawsuit related to February 9 as National Press Day from a number of legitimate press organizations in a democracy. However, he emphasized that February 9, 1946 in Solo was an important moment when 120 journalists convened and declared themselves united in support of national sovereignty. At that time, the Republic faced the threat of re-colonization by the Dutch and the issue of Indonesia was discussed at the UN. Media such as the People's Sovereignty, Harian Merdeka, and RRI played a role in voicing that Indonesia still exists. "That's the history," said Hendry in Jakarta, Tuesday (3/2).

Hendry added, after the reform and the birth of the Press Law 1999, the press is free to form organizations. Many journalist organizations and press companies have been established. PWI is no longer a single organization. According to FWK, all press organizations, both constituent members of the Press Council and non-constituent members, need to work together to face economic pressures, changes in reading patterns, information consumption, and market behavior. The Press Council is asked to be more sensitive to the life of the media, the welfare, and the safety of journalists.

In a discussion in Jakarta, FWK National Coordinator Raja Parlindungan Pane stated that it was time to amend Law No. 40/1999. The old regulation is considered to have not accommodated developments, including the legal protection of journalists. He referred to the Constitutional Court's Decision No. 145/PUU-XXIII/2025 from the material test by Iwakum which assessed Article 8 of the Press Law as incomplete.

FWK also urges the government to act quickly so that the closure of press companies is reduced. Mainstream media is considered to be lagging behind social media and digital platforms. If it is not handled seriously by the press organization together with the government, the public narrative is feared to be filled with biased information and global interests. FWK proposes the establishment of a Media Rescue Task Force led by the Ministry of Politics and Security, involving media, journalists, and academics.