PWI Chairman: Accurate Information Serves as Positive Energy for the Nation

Bandung (ANTARA) - The General Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Central, Akhmad Munir, stated that the presence of the modern press, which provides true and accurate information, serves as positive energy for the Indonesian nation to advance and grow.

“Currently, the role of the press is to ensure that the information received by the public is correct and accurate, which serves as positive energy for this nation to progress and develop; this is its relevance,” said Akhme Munir during the inauguration of the West Java PWI Chairman, Tantan Sulthon, and his management team for the 2026–2031 period at Gedung Merdeka, Bandung, on Friday.

He noted that the challenges facing the press today are no longer solely related to competition between media outlets. The information ecosystem has changed drastically with the strengthening of social media and various digital platforms.

Information can now be produced and disseminated by anyone within seconds, he added. The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also further accelerating content production in various forms.

“The challenge lies in whether we are capable of handling this amidst the challenges of media disruption,” he said.

He emphasised that journalists must not only pursue speed; truth and credibility must remain the primary strengths of the press. Journalists must also keep pace with digital technological developments to become more adaptive without abandoning accuracy and verification.

“The press must strengthen what is true and perform confirmation,” he said.

Regarding media disruption, he stated that it should not be met with fear of technology. Instead, journalists must be able to adapt to technological advancements while simultaneously strengthening their professional competence and integrity.

However, he continued, technology cannot replace the responsibility of a journalist in determining the truth of information, performing verification, providing context, and being accountable for journalistic products to the public.

He expressed that PWI believes technological changes will alter how journalists work, but the principles of integrity, verification, independence, and responsibility to the public must remain unchanged.

He added that PWI, as the largest journalists’ organisation in Indonesia with over 30,000 members, bears a significant responsibility in safeguarding press freedom, educating the public, and contributing to the progress of the nation and state.