LKBN ANTARA Encourages Universities to Strengthen Digital Archive Governance
Tulungagung, East Java (ANTARA) - The East Java Bureau of the National News Agency (LKBN) ANTARA is encouraging higher education institutions to strengthen digital archive governance as part of an effort to maintain accountability and information credibility, while supporting the preservation of institutional memory in the era of digital transformation.
This encouragement was conveyed by the Head of LKBN ANTARA’s East Java Bureau, Abdul Malik Ibrahim, during a Digital Archive Governance Workshop held at the Prajnaparamita Building of the State Islamic University Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah (UIN SATU) Tulungagung, East Java, on Wednesday.
According to Abdul Malik, digital archives are no longer merely a collection of documents, but a strategic asset that serves as a primary reference for academic processes, research, public services, and even the resolution of legal issues.
He stressed that digital archive management must be built on the principles of accuracy, authenticity, security, and ease of access. Without good governance, digital documents risk being lost, damaged, or even losing their evidentiary value.
Abdul Malik explained that ANTARA has been implementing a digital transformation in archive management and its news system gradually for decades. The digitalisation process evolved from a manual system into an integrated platform that supports the entire news production flow, from coverage planning and content processing to distribution and digital archive storage.
Currently, ANTARA operates the ANTARA Virtual Office System (AVOS), which integrates various organisational functions, including news operations, administration, finance, human resources, and asset management, within a single digital ecosystem. In the editorial field, the system is supported by the Integrated News Planning and Monitoring System (SP2MT) and a Newsroom Content Management System (CMS), ensuring that the entire news production process is documented and easily traceable.
“Digitalisation is not just about changing storage media from paper to electronic. What is far more important is building a system that guarantees every piece of information is documented, easily retrievable, secure, and has accountability value,” he said.
He added that the strength of an archive is also an important part of preserving the nation’s history. ANTARA, for example, still stores various historical photo archives, including documentation of the Flag Tearing incident at the Yamato Hotel in Surabaya, which to this day remains a reference for various research and historical publications.
Therefore, universities are expected to start building a systematic culture of digital archive management so that all academic documents, research results, and institutional policies can be stored sustainably and become a credible source of information for future generations.
“Archives do not just store the past, but are an investment in knowledge for the future. The better the digital archive governance, the stronger the accountability and reputation of an institution,” said Abdul Malik.