ANTARA CEO Urges Students to Strengthen Media Literacy in the Digital Era

Students are the fortress, the last fortress as well as the first. In a crisis, those who are strong are people with intellect, who are able to think and make decisions.

Purwokerto (ANTARA) - The CEO of Perum LKBN ANTARA, Benny Siga Butarbutar, urged students to strengthen media literacy, critical thinking skills, and intellectual character to face the torrent of information and digital disruptions affecting the younger generation.

“Students are the fortress, the last fortress as well as the first. In a crisis, those who are strong are people with intellect, who are able to think and make decisions,” said Benny during a public lecture at the FISIP Auditorium of Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, on Friday afternoon.

In front of hundreds of students, he stated that the development of digital technology and social media has changed the information consumption patterns of society while shaping perceptions, character, and decision-making patterns, especially among the younger generation.

According to him, the torrent of information without adequate selection skills can weaken character and reduce critical thinking ability.

“Every day we receive a large amount of information, but if we lack the capacity to select it, the essence of humanity can be eroded,” said Benny in the public lecture themed “Media Literacy: The Role of News Agencies in Building the Nation’s Civilisation in the Digital Era.”

“The age of velocity is the era when information moves faster than the verification process. Therefore, the value of media is no longer just speed, but trust, accuracy, and narrative authority,” he said.

Benny also reminded students not to get trapped in the concept of smart work without going through the process of hard work and discipline.

“There is no smart work without starting with hard work. Hard work shapes character, passion maintains spirit, and discipline enables someone to endure in a crisis,” he said.

He stated that ANTARA continues to transform so as not to merely become a news provider, but also an important part of the national information ecosystem.

“ANTARA is no longer just a news agency, but must become an actor in the state’s information ecosystem and a trusted source of information for the public,” he said.

According to him, campuses are strategic spaces for instilling intellectual values, critical thinking skills, and understanding of the development of conventional media, new media, social media, and artificial intelligence technology.

“Media literacy is important because from there society becomes aware, resilient, and able to filter information, especially in the digital space filled with disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation,” he said.

He emphasised that Indonesia needs information resilience so that society can distinguish valuable, accurate, and objective information amid the flood of digital information.

“Information that is formed must be of quality, with objectivity, cross-checking, and accuracy more important than just being fast,” he said.

“I did not expect the students to be so enthusiastic. This shows the intellectual capacity, concern, and critical attitude of students in responding to the development of new media,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni of Unsoed, Norman Arie Prayogo, said that universities face major challenges amid the torrent of digital information that is not necessarily all true.

“Students as future professionals must be able to recognise bias, combat hoaxes, and use media as a tool for spreading positive change,” he said.

In addition to Benny, the public lecture also featured senior journalist Virgie Baker and the Head of the Communication Studies Department at FISIP Unsoed, Edi Santoso, as speakers.