Jokowi: Everyone Can Be Journalists Without The Editorship Council

Indonesian President Joko Widodo/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) observed that the rapid development of the digital world has made it easier to obtain information, where everyone can now act like journalists who report information.

This was conveyed by Joko Widodo at the opening of the XXX National Level Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an (MTQ) event, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Sunday night, September 9.

In today's digital era, our society is very easy to obtain information. Conventional media that is circulating is starting to get pressed. The dominant ones are social media, online media and everyone can become journalists. Citizen journalism without any editorial board," said Jokowi, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, September 9.

Therefore, he said, every readers of social media news must be able to become editors for themselves, and must be able to filter out which news is good, and which is not good.

"You have to check and check which one is right and which one is hoax or fake news," he said.

He conveyed that to be able to filter information well, the community needs a strong moral guide, namely religion.

"This is where the importance of MTQ and through MTQ not only displays the ability and beauty of reading the Koran, but also the momentum to glorify the Koran, ground the teachings of the Koran, strengthen the nation's morals and spirituality in the joints of the life of the nation and state society," he explained.

The President on that occasion also said that 48 years ago the National MTQ was held in Samarinda City. He assessed that the implementation of the MTQ this time was much better.

Jokowi received reports that many innovations have been made in the implementation of MTQ this time, including the use of digital technology such as e-MTQ, e-maqra, and e-scoring applications.

"And I really hope that not only will the implementation of the MTQ be better, but what is even more important is how the values contained in the Koran such as honesty, justice, peace and unity are getting stronger in our daily lives," he explained.