Lazismu Launches 'Philanthropy Journalism' Book to Bridge Media and Social Welfare

In a reception for Lazismu’s 24th anniversary at the National Library Building in Jakarta on 29 July 2026, Suara Muhammadiyah magazine, in collaboration with Lazismu, launched a book entitled ‘Philanthropy Journalism, Media and the Vision of Welfare’.

Author Roni Tobroni, Republika Editor-in-Chief Andi Muhyidin, Director of Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare at Bappenas RI Tirta Sutedjo, and Islamic Philanthropy Researcher Amelia Fauzia dissected the 345-page book from their respective viewpoints.

The author revealed that the book was born from two intellectual anxieties. Firstly, journalism is continuously experiencing the shocks of disruption. Secondly, the practice of generosity that characterises Indonesian society is not well connected to the world of journalism.

“This book was conceived to bridge these two anxieties. However, the diction of philanthropy journalism becomes a new, interdisciplinary scientific study that gives birth to new perspectives, approaches, and concepts in the field of journalism,” he said in a press statement on Monday (3/8/2026).

Roni revealed that philanthropy journalism is not limited to reporting something. It does not stop at writing information about social activities and actions or merely reporting on the other side of people’s suffering, but also monitors the reality behind the social problems faced, mobilises generosity, and encourages the public to take collective action to provide solutions to existing problems.

“Therefore, the measure of success for philanthropy journalism is not the number of news stories, nor how viral it becomes, but how much impact it delivers to the social life of the community,” he concluded.

Responding to the new book, Republika Editor-in-Chief Andi Muhyidin said the book aims to bridge people who need help and the community who want to help. Philanthropy journalism bridges these two things.

“Mas Roni’s work will be very helpful. This book successfully summarises, narrates step by step, and also explains how philanthropy journalism is then applied,” he explained.

Andi explained that philanthropy journalism means reporting, then showing empathy and taking action. That is the essence. “This is the condition that major media outlets are currently undertaking. They are moving in that direction, but we also need to discuss this further,” he stated.

Furthermore, the discussion touched on how journalism can build public trust. Director of Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare at Bappenas RI, Tirta Sutedjo, assessed that the concept of philanthropy journalism is very interesting for building public trust. With this compelling concept, it can mobilise social issues and community welfare accompanied by proposed solutions.

“We have a major agenda for 2045, precisely 100 years of Indonesian independence. The hope is that we will have become a developed country. This means there will be no more poverty and all Indonesian people will be prosperous,” he said.

Tirta stated that philanthropy journalism certainly needs to take a greater role. One of these is how to eliminate the negative labelling of vulnerable groups that is still dominant in Indonesia.

“This is our collective task. The government, the public, journalists, and the media need to join hands so that our shared agenda can proceed well and smoothly,” he said.