Haedar Nashir Receives 'Wartawan Utama' Status, Recalls His Reporting Days

Muhammadiyah Chairman Haedar Nashir has received the status of Wartawan Utama (Senior Journalist) from the Indonesian Press Council. He recalled his early days as a journalist for Suara Muhammadiyah, which began in 1984. “So I became a journalist for Suara Muhammadiyah in 1984. I am sure some of you were not even born yet. I started as a junior reporter at Suara Muhammadiyah, the oldest media outlet in Indonesia, founded in 1915,” Haedar said in his speech after receiving the status at the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta in South Tangerang on Thursday.

Haedar then reminisced about his struggles during his time as a reporter. He admitted that he once had to walk to find news. “For nearly five years, I was truly forged by Mr. Hazim Amir (the then Editor-in-Chief of Suara Muhammadiyah) to become a field journalist. A field journalist who gathered news from various places and regions, taking buses, trains, walking, and using all sorts of vehicles I had to utilise in Java and outside Java,” he said.

Haedar also recalled that his news copy was once torn up because it did not meet the standards. He also shared a story about his copy being crossed out with red ink. “And that experience, in my opinion, truly shaped me into a journalist, not just a writer. Becoming a journalist, it was not uncommon for the news I wrote to be rejected. In fact, once or twice it was torn up right in front of me. It stung. I had written it feeling that it was correct and good, in accordance with journalistic principles. But no, it was torn up in front of me. There were also times when it was crossed out with a red pen,” he recalled.

That journey eventually led Haedar to become the Editor-in-Chief of Suara Muhammadiyah. He stated that he has no tolerance for journalists who write carelessly. “After that journey, I eventually became the Editor-in-Chief. That foundation meant I had zero tolerance for journalists who wrote carelessly,” he said.

Haedar then expressed his gratitude to the Press Council for granting him the Wartawan Utama status. He admitted that he had previously wanted to obtain the Senior Journalist card. “So I thank the Press Council. I once wanted to get the Senior Journalist card, but at that time I didn’t take the test. I thought, ‘It’s okay, the important thing is that I am a journalist.’ But over time, I also wanted to have the Senior Journalist card,” he said.