BANTEN, Java: The media plays an increasingly critical role in safeguarding the quality of democracy and shaping national direction.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, said this is particularly so amid rapid digital development and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
He said technological advancements, including AI, must not erode journalistic values or weaken the economic sustainability of the media industry.
“The world today is driven by information, data and algorithms. However, journalism must not lose to algorithms.
“While technology dominates the dissemination of information, the media’s role as a guardian of truth, a filter of information and the voice of the people cannot be replaced by automation,” he said.
Muhaimin, who represented Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, said this during the pinnacle celebration of National Press Day (Hari Pers Nasional – HPN) 2026 held at the Banten Provincial Government Centre here today.
Muhaimin said the rapid development of digital technology and AI has blurred the line between facts and manipulation, placing greater responsibility on media organisations to ensure information is verified ethically and transparently.
“Without verification and journalistic ethics, information risks becoming misleading and false,” he said, adding that journalism without human involvement could also lose its sense of empathy.
Muhaimin pointed out that although journalists were once regarded as “kings of the world”, algorithms now appear to play a dominant role in shaping information flows.
However, he stressed that national direction and democratic quality must remain in the hands of professional and responsible media institutions.
He also described the media as more than a channel for information delivery, saying it serves as a driver of social change and a key instrument in countering misinformation and disinformation.
“The public does not only need fast information, but information that is accurate, honest and beneficial to society,” he said.
Muhaimin highlighted that Indonesia is currently among Southeast Asia’s largest digital markets, with more than 229 million people, or about 80 per cent of the population, connected to the internet.
He said this makes the country’s economic prospects, social stability and national cohesion highly dependent on the quality of information disseminated by the media.
“Average social media usage stands at nearly three hours per day. A healthy media environment is not only about freedom of expression, but also about ensuring the sustainability of the media industry.
“The government remains committed to strengthening media freedom and supporting the industry’s economic resilience,” he added.
The HPN 2026 celebration, themed ‘Healthy Press, Sovereign Economy, Strong Nation’, was attended by Malaysia’s Deputy Communications Minister, Teo Nie Ching, leaders of the Malaysia-Indonesia Journalists Friendship Association (ISWAMI), as well as media practitioners from Indonesia and Malaysia.
During the event, the 2026 National Press Declaration was announced, calling for stronger protection for media practitioners, enhanced journalistic professionalism, and fair compensation from digital and AI platforms that utilise journalistic content, including proper source attribution.
The HPN 2026 programme was held from Feb 7 to 9, featuring media conventions, journalism seminars, national forums, photojournalism exhibitions and community outreach activities.
The HNP is observed annually on Feb 9, marking the founding of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) in 1946 and it was officially recognised through Presidential Decree No. 5 of 1985.
