ANTARA and LLDikti III Propose Communication Curriculum Overhaul to Meet Modern Media Demands

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National News Agency (Perum LKBN) ANTARA and the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDikti) Region III are exploring opportunities to adjust communication and journalism curricula to align with the real needs of the modern media industry.

ANTARA’s President Director, Benny Siga Butarbutar, stated during an audience at the ANTARA Heritage Center on Friday that current university curricula require adjustments so that the material taught on campus can be directly absorbed by the media industry through link and match programmes.

Benny revealed that universities are required to incorporate new competency standards in the digital era, such as content creator journalism, data journalism, and an understanding of the global media landscape.

“For example, current curriculum issues, particularly in communication and journalism, are already very irrelevant for link and match programmes. Consequently, what is taught on campus is not quickly absorbed by the industry. We are making a cooperation agreement to adjust the curriculum,” he said.

Beyond restructuring the communication curriculum, Benny added that ANTARA is also opening a synergy space for lecturers under the auspices of LLDikti Region III to transform their scientific works into compelling popular articles through the opinion channel called “Telaah”.

Welcoming the initiative, Head of LLDikti Region III Henri Togar Hasiholan Tambunan expressed strong support for the collaboration to broaden the reach of impactful programmes from private universities (PTS) to the wider community.

Henri acknowledged that campuses in his region have so far been limited in utilising internal social media to publicise achievements or community service programmes, such as Thematic Community Service Programmes (KKN) in post-disaster areas.

Therefore, Henri hopes this strategic partnership with ANTARA can become a platform for academics to learn how to formulate stronger and more professional public communication strategies.

“This is what we want to build with ANTARA. Firstly, we want to learn about how news reporting works. Secondly, we also want ANTARA to be able to convey to the public the position and condition of our universities,” said Henri Tambunan.