PWI Jaya and Bank Jakarta Launch Financial Literacy Category for 2026 Journalism Award
The Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI Jaya), in collaboration with Bank Jakarta, has introduced a special financial literacy category for the 2026 Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin (MHT) Journalism Award. The category is designed to encourage the creation of high-quality journalistic works that improve public understanding of Bank Jakarta’s role and contribution to regional economic development.
PWI Jaya Chairman Kesit B. Handoyo stated that the special category represents a positive collaboration between the press and the banking sector to build better financial literacy. “The press has an important role in conveying accurate, educational, and beneficial information to the public. Through this special financial literacy category supported by Bank Jakarta, we hope journalists can produce works that are not only of high journalistic quality but also provide a broader understanding of the banking sector’s contribution to economic development and public welfare,” he said.
According to Handoyo, the competition also provides a platform for journalists to highlight various innovations, services, community empowerment programmes, digital transformation, and Bank Jakarta’s tangible contributions to supporting Jakarta’s economic growth and strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Bank Jakarta President Director Agus H Widodo welcomed the collaboration as part of efforts to improve public financial literacy and strengthen ties with the media community. “We believe the media plays a strategic role in building public understanding of inclusive and sustainable financial services. Through this competition, we hope to see works that objectively portray Bank Jakarta’s innovations, programmes, and contributions to the community and regional economic development,” he said.
Bank Jakarta Corporate Secretary Arie Rinaldi expressed hope that the special financial literacy category would motivate journalists to produce informative, educational, and inspiring works. “Through accurate and balanced journalistic works, the educational spirit promoted by this special category is expected to have a tangible impact on improving public financial literacy,” he said.
The special category is open to all mass media journalists in Indonesia. Participants can enter three competition categories: feature news, opinion articles, and photo features. Three main themes are available: strengthening SMEs, Jakarta’s banking digitalisation, and the banking financial ecosystem. All entries must include the keyword ‘Bank Jakarta’ and may utilise official information sources provided by the bank.
The submission deadline is 31 July 2026. In the initial stage, the jury will select the five best entries in each category. Judging criteria for feature news will include depth of coverage, human interest strength, theme relevance, writing quality, data accuracy, and originality. Opinion articles will be assessed on argument strength, use of data and references, depth of analysis, theme relevance, and novelty of ideas. Photo features will be judged on storytelling ability, journalistic value, theme relevance, technical quality and visual composition, and caption strength.
For each category, the first-place winner will receive a trophy, certificate, and a cash prize of Rp15 million. Two nominees in each category will receive certificates of appreciation and coaching money of Rp5 million each.
Through this special category, Bank Jakarta hopes to gain strategic benefits, including increased public literacy about banking products and services, a strengthened reputation as a modern and innovative regional development bank, and wider positive exposure through mass media publications. PWI Jaya and Bank Jakarta hope this collaboration will contribute to building a healthy information ecosystem, increasing public trust in the financial services sector, and strengthening synergy between the media, the public, and the banking world in the era of digital transformation.