Reflections on the Digital Press and New Hopes for PWI West Java
If one hears the name of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI), my reflective memory flies to a line of maestros, among them Mahbub Junaidi, Rosihan Anwar, and Atang Ruswita. Although the list of PWI chairmen over the years has been filled by great names, these three figures have left their own distinctive ink marks in our collective memory.
Mahbub Junaidi was not merely the first chairman of PB PMII. His writing was sharp, satirical, yet full of rich humour. As noted by Tempo magazine founder Goenawan Mohamad in ‘Kolom Demi Kolom: Humor-Humor Bernas Sang Maestro’, Mahbub’s agility in blending intellectual acumen with unexpected analogies often made fellow writers envious.
Meanwhile, Rosihan Anwar left a legacy of exemplary intellectual thirst. One story remains etched in my memory. As a teenager, Rosihan preferred to lend his money to buy books rather than to buy a plate of rice. Rosihan Anwar’s writings, always adorned with the title ‘senior journalist’, were among the most sought after. Dozens of his books, including the monumental multi-volume work ‘Sang Pelopor: Anak Bangsa dalam Pusaran Sejarah’ and a series of other journalistic books, became valuable references that I enjoyed when entering the world of the press.
As for Atang Ruswita, he demonstrated fighting spirit from the grassroots. According to notes by senior journalist Her Suganda in the book ‘Jendela Bandung: Pengalaman Bersama Kompas’, Atang once slept on the grounds of Cipaganti Mosque in Bandung after a day of selling newspapers. His long journey in founding and building Pikiran Rakyat together with Sakti Alamsyah became an important milestone in the development of the press in West Java and at the national level.
Today, the journalistic landscape has shifted drastically into the digital space. Speed often sacrifices accuracy, and social media algorithms frequently dictate the depth of writing. Amid the strong currents of information disruption, the 2026 West Java PWI Conference, which has just concluded, brought fresh air. The election of Tantan Sulthon Bukhawan as Chairman of PWI West Java for the 2026–2031 period brings new hope for the future of journalist professionalism and mass media in Pasundan.
Congratulations on this new mandate to Bro Tantan. Although we are both no longer long-haired, the spirit of resistance against injustice must not be extinguished, except perhaps resistance in front of one’s beloved wife at home.
Great hopes rest on the shoulders of this new board. PWI West Java under TSB’s leadership must be able to become a bastion of journalist professionalism. In the digital era, the press must not be trapped into merely producing clickbait, but must remain present to enlighten, educate, and stand firm in defending the mustad’afin — the poor, the peripheral, and the marginalised groups who are often crushed by power structures.
One thing that needs to be emphasised in navigating the press organisation going forward is the relationship with regional government. Strategic collaboration between PWI West Java and the West Java Provincial Government as well as city and regency governments is natural and needed for regional development. However, such partnership and collaboration must not erode the objectivity and critical capacity of the press.
The government needs a healthy press, a press capable of providing objective input, constructive criticism, and balanced oversight. The ideal partnership is not one that silences, but rather cooperation that respects each other’s functions for the public good of West Java.
A strong press is an independent press. The bargaining power of the press does not lie in how close it is to power, but in how consistently it voices truth and valid facts in society.
History has proven how mighty ideas conveyed through honest and rich journalistic work can be. As the legendary saying of Napoleon Bonaparte goes, ‘A pen is more dangerous than a thousand bayonets.’
In the hands of professional and upright journalists, a single stroke of the pen or a single keystroke in today’s digital era has extraordinary transformative power to safeguard democracy, defend ordinary people, and build a more dignified West Java.
Congratulations on your service to Bro Tantan Sulthon Bukhawan and the entire PWI West Java board for 2026. Remain a sharp pen, enlightening, and siding with truth.