Pegadaian Holds UKW for Hundreds of Indonesian Journalists to Support Journalistic Competence

PT Pegadaian (Persero) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the quality of the Indonesian press by organising a series of Journalist Competency Tests (UKW). The programme, conducted in partnership with the Dr. Soetomo Press Institute (LPDS), has reached hundreds of journalists from various regions across Indonesia since 2025, as part of an effort to strengthen national press professionalism. Entering 2026, the commitment continues with the first UKW session held in Jakarta on 3–5 June 2026, followed by a session in Surabaya on 24–26 June 2026, involving a total of 40 journalists from 37 media outlets. During the Surabaya event, the Vice Chairman of the Press Council, Totok Suryanto, expressed appreciation for Pegadaian’s support in enhancing journalist competency, noting its significant impact and benefits for journalists. Similarly, the Director of the Dr. Soetomo Press Institute, Kristanto Hartadi, conveyed his gratitude, stating that Pegadaian’s support represents a tangible contribution to maintaining the quality of Indonesian journalism. ‘On behalf of LPDS and all Indonesian press members, we thank Pegadaian for supporting the improvement of national press competency and professionalism. Moreover, the implementation of UKW is part of an effort to preserve press freedom. Press freedom can only be safeguarded by professional, competent, and integral journalists. Pegadaian’s support is a real contribution to maintaining the quality of Indonesian journalism,’ said Kristanto. On a separate occasion, PT Pegadaian’s Director of Network and Operations, Eka Pebriansyah, stated that the company considers the media a strategic partner in building public literacy. Therefore, the company is committed to continuously supporting the capacity building of press members so they can deliver accurate, credible, and value-added information to the public. ‘A professional press plays a crucial role in building public trust and enhancing public literacy, including financial literacy. Through UKW, Pegadaian hopes to contribute to creating a healthy, objective, and responsible information ecosystem,’ said Eka. Previously, Pegadaian successfully held UKW sessions throughout 2025 in eleven cities: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, Medan, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Denpasar, Balikpapan, Manado, and Makassar. The programme was attended by 226 journalists from 208 media outlets across 26 provinces in Indonesia.