ISKI National Conference Strengthens Credible Communication Ecosystem

The Association of Indonesian Communication Scholars (ISKI) has been urged to undergo a fundamental transformation to address communication challenges in an era of information overload. The role of communication practitioners and experts is crucial in maintaining sanity and quality in communication within society and the government. ‘Communication is among the top three governmental issues today, alongside the economy and law,’ emphasised ISKI Deputy Chairman Hendri Satrio during a public discussion at the ISKI 2026 National Conference at Esa Unggul University, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/6). According to Hensa, as he is known, ISKI must position itself as an organisation that is relevant to the state, not merely a gathering platform for communication experts. ‘ISKI should not just be an organisation for communication experts, and do not let the National Conference become a reunion event. ISKI must be able to make a real contribution to the nation,’ said Hensa, who is the Founder of the KedaiKopi Survey Institute. A similar view was expressed by Member of the ISKI Board of Professors, Gun Gun Heryanto. According to him, there is still a gap where communication professionals have not been maximally involved in advocating policy products, especially those with a strong policy dimension. ‘Communication is not merely the delivery of messages, but an instrument of policy advocacy. We need to ensure the policy dimension in every narrative is conveyed appropriately to the public so that trust can be rebuilt,’ said Gun Gun. ISKI Chairman Atwar Bajari acknowledged that the current communication landscape faces many challenges. Besides the presence of artificial intelligence (AI) which is fundamentally changing communication, it also concerns the quality of information and the level of public trust in various institutions. ‘Through the 2026 National Conference, ISKI affirms its commitment to becoming an organisation that is adaptive to changes in communication technology while contributing to building a healthy, credible public space oriented towards the public interest,’ said Atwar. Atwar revealed that the ISKI 2026 National Conference produced a formulation of the ISKI Strategic Plan and work programmes that serve as a foundation for running the organisation. The conference also successfully established a number of priority programmes focusing on strengthening the organisation’s foundation, consolidating members and regions, activating public communication, enhancing member capacity, strengthening research and publications, and expanding strategic cooperation with various stakeholders. Atwar disclosed that the conference forum mandated ISKI to be present as a strategic partner to the government and policy makers, providing critical input based on scholarship, ethics, public morals, and public interest. Furthermore, ISKI needs to encourage the strengthening of the national public communication system, including central-regional public communication guidelines, institutional communication protocols, as well as more responsive, empathetic, open, and non-reactive government communication. ‘The decisions produced at the National Conference will be immediately followed up by the board through activities targeting not only ISKI members but all stakeholders to realise a harmonious communication ecosystem,’ asserted Atwar.