From HPN 2025, Reflection On The Strategic Role Of Indonesian Press

The peak of the 2025 National Press Day (HPN) event was held in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. The theme of this year's commemoration, 'Pers Maintain Food Security for National Independence', affirms the strategic role of press personnel as guardians of information sovereignty as well as supporters of the nation's sustainability.

The long history of Indonesian press proves that journalists are not only recorded, but also fighters. From the Press Congress in Surakarta in 1946 to the challenges of the current digital era, the press has always been at the forefront of the nation's struggle. However, is the press role still that strong?

On February 9, 1946, in the midst of Dutch colonialism again gripping Indonesia, 180 journalists from various regions gathered in Surakarta. Their journey was full of risks, including Manai Sophiaan, a journalist from Makassar, who took 35 days to board a ship to reach Solo.

In that congress, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) was born. They emphasized the oath, 'Every Indonesian journalist is obliged to work for the interests of the country and the nation and always remember the United Nations and State Sovereignty.' This statement is a moral guideline that reinforces the role of the press as the guardian of the nation's struggle, not just an event reporter.

In the commemoration of the 2025 HPN, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, who was present at the peak of the event, reminded him of his press attachment to cultural arts. He highlighted figures such as Mochtar Lubis and Djamaluddin Adinegoro. These two figures prove that journalists are also able to use art as a medium of struggle.

Mochtar Lubis, for example, was a journalist and novelist who loudly criticized the Soekarno and Suharto regimes. He was imprisoned, but remained steadfast in voicing the truth through his writings. The story shows that journalists are voices to those who are silent.

In his speech regarding the 2025 HPN, President Prabowo Subianto reminded that the press must continue to uphold Pancasila as the basis for work. He asked the Indonesian press to continue to be loyal to the nation's ideals and play an active role in state development.

However, the challenges of the press in the digital era are not easy. The dominance of viral content and social media algorithms often shifts focus from quality to popularity. Is the Indonesian press still able to maintain objectivity, or is it trapped in a shallow market trend?

The theme of the 2025 HPN, 'Pers Maintain Food Security for National Independence', bring attention to strategic issues involving innovation, policy, and community participation. In this context, the press has a big role to play in educating the public, monitoring policies, and encouraging behavior change.

Food security is not only a matter of production, but also distribution and sustainability. The press must be a bridge of information, ensuring that the policies taken are truly in favor of the people, not just a political slogan.

The press must not lose its dignity. As emphasized at the 1946 PWI Congress, journalists have a big responsibility to work for the benefit of the nation and state. In the era of disinformation, the press must be the guardian of truth and information independence.

Today, challenges may be different, but the essence remains the same: keep the interests of the nation above all else. If the press loses the courage to voice the truth, who else will do it?

The commemoration of National Press Day 2025 is a momentum to reflect on the long journey of the Indonesian press. From Surakarta 1946 to Banjarmasin 2025, the press has proven itself to be the guardian of the nation's sovereignty as well as the driving force for change.

However, this task never ends. In the midst of a fast-paced digital flow, press personnel are required to remain loyal to the ideals of the nation's founders: to become a press that is Pancasilaist, dynamic, and is committed to safeguarding the interests of the state. Because in truth, the press is not only a matter of reporting facts, but also safeguarding the nation's future.