HPN Seminar 2025: Answering The Challenges Of Credibility And Press Professionalism

The chairman of the Central PWI, Hendry Ch Bangun, emphasized the importance of the relationship between journalists and well-established resource persons. (Central PWI Doc)

BANJARMASIN - National Press Day (HPN) 2025 in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan held a discussion attended by dozens of journalists throughout Indonesia which was held at the Galaxy Hotel Hotel, Friday 7 February to the afternoon.

The discussion in the 2025 HPN series took the big theme Seminar Nasial Publication Transformation of Digital Bureaucratics for Responsible Press. Present are competent speakers in their fields, Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Communications and Informatics Offices, Muhammad Faisal MP, Deputy Public Affairs Chairperson of the Indonesian Forum, Sofyan Herbowo, Chairman of the Committee on Responsibility of Digotal Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism, Suprapto Sastroatmojo, LKBH-PWI Advisor, Zacky Anthony and South Kalimantan PWI Secretary, Toto Fachrudin.

The chairman of the Central PWI, Hendry Ch Bangun, said that the seminar, which was held, was expected to further clarify the relationship between the press and resource persons and government instants in establishing future cooperation.

"We hope that the presence of these resource persons can clarify the position of the press in collaborating with the government and the private sector. We hope that through this forum it will also become a healthier and more responsible press," said Hendry Ch Bangun in his remarks.

The Governor of South Kalimantan expressed his appreciation at the 2025 HPN which was held in South Kalimantan. The appreciation was read out directly by his representative Ahmad Kurniawan.

"Representing the Governor, Haji Muhidin, we opened this seminar. I give the highest appreciation to members of the press in maintaining the dignity of democracy in this country. Hopefully this HPN moment will strengthen the current press," said Muhidin, read by Ahmad Kurniawan.

The first speaker, Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Communications and Informatics Offices, Muhammad Faisal, said that relationships with the media were part of the main tasks and functions carried out by public relations or PR of an agency, including its agencies.

"Media Relations is carried out in order to obtain the widest possible news coverage or media coverage. In collaborating with the press, we also issue a press regulation that must be verified, Pimred must be the main thing. This is for the conditions for our cooperation. The target is that this regulation is met by both print, electronic and online media," he said.

Toto Fachrudin, Secretary of the PWI of South Kalimantan, human press, said that based on his facts and experience, the Press worked on the Press Law and also as social, education and press control as a business to keep the Company running.

"Pers is a social control but the press is also a business company. The Indonesian press has a huge and open press to be able to convey its views to the public. And this is what we call the press on both sides. On the very bottom, we see and acknowledge that so many people suddenly become journalists. And so easy to establish business entities. This is what should be observed," said Toto.

Pers saat ini tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai communikator saja dalam menyampaikan kebijakan yang lebih bagus. Tapi juga dia sebagai pembentuk public opinion. Challenge Pers, pertama membangun reputa n kredibiltas Perusahaan media. Dan kedua yakni literasi dan kebijakan, sambung Sofyan Herbowo.

Suprapto Sastroatmodjo said that the number of media in Indonesia could reach 50 thousand. This is due to the difficulty of making media companies.

"Now making media companies is very easy. Because there are also agencies that donate masa' so it triggers everyone to create websites. So it's not surprising in the media company's business. However, based on data in the press council, the number is 1,793 companies. And only 997 press companies have been verified, only half of them. This is what I think is really press.

LKBH-PWI adviser, Zacky Anthony emphasized that journalists in carrying out their duties have legal protection. Legal protection while carrying out this journalistic task is based on a law that refers to Article 8 of the Press Law. However, outside of the law journalists do not receive legal protection.

"What the head of des is afraid of is now a mass organization and journalist bodrex. Not afraid of professional journalists. We even know that OTT happened to journalists. So, professional journalists should not threaten and this can be reported. Regarding the current number of media, I think only God and the angels know exactly, "explained Zacy.

What is clear is that the current press challenge is the press community itself. The professional press complies with the rules and laws. Providing good work of protection to journalists, it must be protected. This is to protect dark riders who threaten and extort. Professional press will not do that," concluded Zacky on the sidelines of the seminar in the context of the 2025 HPN.