Digital Content Workshop Opens New Doors for Morotai Creators

“Don’t forget to stroll around Morotai!” said Reza Kusman as he opened his Instagram Reels video. This invitation, meaning “don’t forget to take a walk in Morotai,” kicked off a 49-second piece of content in which the 35-year-old man reviewed the Trikora Museum in Morotai Island Regency, North Maluku. While virtually guiding his followers and viewers on a tour, he recounted the historical relics preserved in the museum, a witness to World War II events.

Thanks to that content, Reza, who works as a lecturer in the Environmental Engineering programme at Pacific Morotai University, emerged as the first-place winner, beating over a hundred participants in the “Shoot, Edit, Upload: Training to Create Cool Content from Smartphones” workshop organised by Tempo Inti Media Impresario in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), at SMP Negeri 1 in Morotai Island Regency, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

Reza intends to pass on the editing knowledge he gained from the workshop to his students. He routinely encourages his students to produce educational content, such as in the Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) course. In that course, Reza accompanies his students on field data collection and helps them create social media content from those activities.

For Reza, the workshop material has enriched his knowledge. He admitted to gaining many new insights from the three presenters who explained practical knowledge on content creation strategies, video shooting techniques for content, and video editing.

The workshop held in Morotai is part of a series of training activities that will also be conducted in Jailolo, West Halmahera Regency. This event not only equips participants with technical skills but also instils an understanding of using digital technology wisely, creatively, and productively.

Secretary of Morotai Island Regency, Muhammad Umar Ali, emphasised that the development of digital technology opens wide opportunities for every individual to create. According to him, through simple devices like smartphones, people can now become creators capable of disseminating information while building a positive image of the region.

“This workshop is important not only for technical skills like shooting, editing, to publishing, but also for opening horizons in utilising digital media wisely,” he said.

He also urged participants, from students and university students to MSME actors and the general public, to use this event as a momentum for self-capacity building. Furthermore, he invited the community to actively promote Morotai’s potentials, from tourism and culture to cuisine and local products, to gain global recognition.

On the other hand, BAKTI Komdigi Director General Fadhilah Mathar highlighted the importance of human roles in digital transformation. She reminded that the digital literacy gap remains a challenge, especially in eastern Indonesia. “Digital transformation is not just about infrastructure, but about the people. How we understand and utilise technology to advance,” she said.

Fadhilah described Morotai as a region rich in history and natural beauty, with great potential to be told to the world through digital platforms. “Digitalisation should be a bridge connecting local identity to the global world,” she added.

Director of Tempo Inti Media Impresario, Ali Nur Yasin, explained that this workshop is part of an ongoing programme implemented in various regions in Indonesia, from Keerom and Sambas to Rote Ndao, as well as several areas in East Nusa Tenggara. “This year we are present in North Maluku, including Morotai and West Halmahera. This is part of our commitment to continuously expand digital literacy reach,” he said.

He stressed the importance of encouraging the younger generation not just to become content creators, but also storytellers capable of creatively highlighting regional potentials and local values.

Support for this event also came from the education sector. Principal of SMP Negeri 1 Morotai, Rudy Yaman, expressed his appreciation because his school was trusted as the venue for the workshop. “This is a valuable opportunity for students to gain digital knowledge. Technology has become part of life, and our challenge is to use it wisely,” he said. He also encouraged students to be bold in trying and using social media as a means to spread positive things and introduce local culture.

One student from SMA Negeri 1 Pulau Morotai, Sayyid Husen Ali, who participated in the workshop, said he most enjoyed the class on social media introduction and editing. “What I liked most was the class on social media introduction and editing,” he said. As part of the workshop, Ali created a simple yet informative video content about the health unit at SMA Negeri 1 Morotai.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that a generation of digital creators from Morotai will emerge who are not only technically proficient but also capable of presenting authentic local stories with global competitiveness. From Morotai, for Indonesia, even the world.

This effort aligns with the steps of the Communication and Informatics Office of Morotai Island Regency, which in the last year has continuously improved public information services.