PWI and Polri target 10,000 journalists to participate in the UKW

Kota Jambi — The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) together with the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) target 10,000 journalists to participate in the Journalist Competency Test (UKW) to improve the quality of human resources in Indonesia’s press community.

‘This is a joint effort to raise the professional standards of our journalists; we will conduct a joint competency test. A memorandum of understanding will be signed soon,’ said Akhmad Munir, Chairman of PWI Pusat, while attending a UKW event in Kota Jambi on Wednesday.

Munir said that at present the programme is being implemented by Polda Metro Jaya with around 100 journalists in that region.

He added that PWI and Mabes Polri will also hold a follow-up meeting on Friday (22/5) to firm up the programme’s implementation so that it runs as planned.

He noted that all funding for the UKW implementation under the cooperation programme comes from police budgets.

On the other hand, this synergy also emphasises the importance of protecting journalistic work.

‘The implementation of the competency test will be carried out in stages according to needs in each region. In the future each region is planned to be allocated according to a quota,’ he added.

Therefore, through the implementation of the competency tests for journalists organised by PWI Kota Jambi, it is hoped to produce high-quality journalistic works that can serve as trusted information references for the public through the journalistic products produced.

According to him, by taking UKW, a journalist will have a clear standard of competence to produce credible, accurate press products that bring maslahah or public benefit.

‘Hopefully, the public will receive correct information. This correct information is produced by colleagues who take part in this competency test,’ he asserted.