Jakarta, April 29, 2025 – The Faculty of Communication Science at Universitas Tarumanagara held the second day of its Practitioners Week 2025 virtually, presenting the theme “Navigating Smart (Contemporary) Journalism.” The event served as a vital platform for students to engage in discussions about the disruptions brought by technology and the overflow of information in today’s media landscape.
The session was opened by MC Vandiago Marchellinus and followed by welcoming remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Communication Science, Dr. Riris Loisa, M.Si. The keynote session was delivered by Herik Kurniawan, Chairman of the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), who presented his talk on “Positive Journalism in the Era of Multi-Disruption.” In his presentation, Herik emphasized the critical role of the press as the guardian of society’s “collective imagination” and the last line of defense against the spread of hoaxes.
“The press, journalists, the public, and media companies must maintain balance to ensure the production of not just fast news, but quality news,” Herik asserted.
He also explored the phenomenon of information warfare, highlighting how foreign cultures such as Korean and Japanese media infiltrate through various channels, and how journalism has evolved from print to the use of artificial intelligence like ChatGPT—shifting the equilibrium of modern journalism.
According to Herik, the difference between print media, the internet, and AI lies in the speed and distribution of information. He noted that a journalist’s communication with the public is no longer confined to print or news websites but increasingly flows through social media and video platforms, which now play a major role in shaping public opinion.
In today’s context, journalism must fulfill five essential elements: relevance, credibility, storytelling, multi-informational depth, and personalization. Additionally, mastering technologies such as data analysis, SEO, and cybersecurity has become a must-have skill set for modern journalists.
At the end of his session, Herik shared an inspiring message: “Keep upgrading yourself by reading books and references.” Practitioners Week 2025 reaffirms that journalism must not remain passive amid change. In fact, during times of transformation, smart and responsible journalism is more essential than ever to safeguard democracy and promote public literacy. (MN)