Innovation a Must for Press to Survive

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Editor in chief of Kompas Ninuk Mardiana Pambudy (right) receives the Best National Newspaper Award at the Newspaper Publishers Union’s (SPS) 2019 Indonesia Print Media Awards on Thursday, Feb. 7, in Surabaya, East Java. The award evening was part of a series of events held to commemorate National Press Day.

SURABAYA, KOMPAS – Media companies, especially print media, can make it through the current era of disruption if they continue to innovate and produce quality journalism. Print media is also hoped to be able to guide and enlighten the public.

On Friday, Feb. 8, Kompas daily accepted the award for excellent sports journalism at the 2019 Indonesian Journalists Association’s (PWI) Sports Journalists’ Award Night at the Grahadi Building in Surabaya, East Java.

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, who presented the award, said the press played a very important role in national sports development.

The day before, Kompas won nine awards at the Newspaper Publishers Union’s (SPS) Satu Dekade Indonesia Print Media Awards (IPMA) at the Siola Convention Center, also in Surabaya. The IPA award ceremony was part of the 2019 National Press Day commemoration.

Kompas chief editor Ninuk Mardiana Pambudy said that Kompas’ awards were proof of the public’s trust and appreciation. The awards reaffirmed that Kompas is on the right path in providing quality journalism.

However, winning the awards also means that Kompas should continue to produce quality journalism that has positive impacts on society.

SPS chairman Alwi Hamu said that newspaper publishers were often under heavy pressure from members of the public, who increasingly prefer to get their information from internet-based social and interactive media. These publishers try to counter decreasing newspaper sales by expanding their reach and influence on digital platforms. Kompas has undergone such a development by launching www.kompas.id. Through the platform, Kompas has been able to maintain the quality of its journalism, as proven by the prestigious awards the company has won.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said he believed newspapers would survive amid the mushrooming of social and digital media.

“I believe that newspapers still have readers, even if they have become segmented,” he said.

According to Rudiantara, what has changed is only the platforms or media used to access information. Quality information and content produced by professional journalists remain necessary. In producing their reports, journalists should always prioritize journalistic principles.

Separately, Indonesia New Media Watch executive director and Press Council commissioner-elect Agus Sudibyo said mass media should continue to guide and enlighten the public.

“Journalists, as the front line of mass media, should not merely follow the trending issues on social media, let alone use them as references to create journalism,” he said.