Digital Transformation: Local Media Urged to Maintain Journalistic Quality
The development of the press in the regions was one of the topics discussed in a meeting between Dar Edi Yoga, a member of the Press Council’s Working Group on Research, Data Collection, and Press Ratification, and Sudirman Sulaiman, a community figure from Kotamobagu, North Sulawesi, at the Press Council office in Jakarta.
The meeting, which took place in a relaxed atmosphere, provided a space for exchanging views on community dynamics and the development of the press ecosystem in the regions.
Sudirman, familiarly known as Haji Ninong, conveyed a number of views on the condition of society and the development of information in Kotamobagu and the wider North Sulawesi region. In his view, regional media hold an important position because they serve as the information bridge closest to people’s daily lives.
Dar Edi Yoga assessed that the development of the regional press cannot be separated from the challenges of digital transformation. Local media are required to maintain journalistic quality while also being able to adapt to changes in public information consumption patterns.
“The regional press has a strategic role. The media not only convey information, but also become part of community life and help oversee development in the regions,” said Dar Edi Yoga on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
According to him, strengthening the regional press requires collaboration between press professionals, the public, local government, professional organisations and various stakeholders. Amid the torrent of information flowing through social media, professional media are increasingly expected to prioritise verification, accuracy and balance.
The meeting was also part of efforts to build broader communication between the Press Council and various elements of society in the regions. Input from the public is considered important so that the development of the press remains grounded in public needs.
From Kotamobagu, the message that emerged was simple: the regional press should not merely be a spectator of change, but must become an important part in helping to determine the direction of that change.