Government Unifies Public Relations Networks to Accelerate Policy Communication
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is unifying the public relations networks of ministries, agencies, and regional governments to build policy communication that is faster, more coordinated, and reaches the public even in remote areas.
The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, stated that coordination between public relations departments has become a vital necessity amidst the heavy flow of digital information, including the rise of disinformation and hoaxes.
“Within the framework of government communication duties, first, we must have a narrative, and second, we must have a delivery mechanism that reaches the furthest regions for dissemination,” Meutya said during the Government Public Relations Coordination Body (Bakohumas) Forum in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to her, the government requires strong coordination between the public relations arms of ministries and agencies and those of regional governments. This coordination will also serve as a space to evaluate government communication.
Meutya noted that the public relations communication forum will be directed to become a periodic agenda. The government hopes this forum can serve as a space to unify narratives while accelerating coordination when the government needs to convey policies to the public.
Furthermore, the strengthening of public relations coordination is necessary alongside the ongoing digitalisation process.
She suggested that the national public relations forum, which has traditionally been held through the Public Relations Media Awards, could be supplemented by a communication forum that allows ministries, agencies, and regional governments to coordinate more rapidly.
“With digitalisation, we also need rapid coordination. Therefore, once again, we thank the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs for facilitating more intensive meetings,” said Meutya.
The Head of the Government Communication Agency, M. Qodari, stated that policy communication is as important as the implementation of programmes itself.
“Programme communication must be carried out so that support for these programmes improves and the results are more optimal,” said Qodari.
He noted that the government cannot afford to wait while the public information space moves constantly through social media.
The government needs to have a routine communication agenda so that information regarding policies, programmes, and the tangible results felt by the community remains continuously available.
“The government cannot wait. We must have a routine schedule and a communication agenda that ensures information spaces are constantly filled with various types of information regarding government activities and programmes,” he said.
Qodari also emphasised the importance of presenting the public as the face of government programmes. Information regarding programmes should demonstrate the changes experienced by citizens, rather than stopping at mere explanations of policy.
“Programmes should not just be programmes; they must have a face. The face of the Indonesian people, the face of the Indonesian nation, the face of our children, and those who feel the benefits of the programmes organised by the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya, assessed that the government’s public relations network must work in two directions.
“Public relations is not just about one-way communication of policies or information from the government; it would be excellent if public relations officers could also read what is being discussed by the public so that it serves as input for the government,” said Bima.
Bima also requested that government public relations provide more space for positive information and inspiring stories from various regions. This way, the digital information space is not solely filled with government responses to negative issues or disinformation.
“We will increase coordination in the future in accordance with the duties and functions of Polkam. We will synchronise public relations activities so they can proceed according to all our expectations,” he said.
The forum is part of an effort to build a government communication system capable of moving faster, reading public needs, and ensuring that information regarding government programmes reaches the people throughout Indonesia.