The Legacy of Alex Noerdin in Initiatives to Enhance Press Professionalism
In 2010, Governor Alex Noerdin received the ‘Golden Pen’ award from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) for his role in enhancing the professionalism of the national press.
Palembang (ANTARA) - The Indonesian press may be one of the institutions that feels the greatest loss with the passing of Alex Noerdin, Governor of South Sumatra for the period 2008-2018, on Wednesday (25/2) at the age of 75.
In the province of South Sumatra, the name Alex Noerdin is often associated with various development initiatives, ranging from infrastructure and sports to governance. However, one equally important aspect is his support for improving press professionalism in South Sumatra.
Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of South Sumatra, Oktaf Riyadi, in Palembang, Thursday, recounted how Governor Alex Noerdin in 2009 asked PWI South Sumatra to hold a national-scale event.
During a meeting of PWI leaders in Jakarta that year, PWI South Sumatra, without Alex Noerdin’s knowledge as the regional head, expressed its readiness to host the event for the first time.
“After returning from Jakarta, I reported to Governor Alex Noerdin, and he immediately approved and stated that South Sumatra was ready in every way to make the 2010 National Press Day (HPN) a success,” he said.
One of the highlights of the effort to improve press professionalism in South Sumatra was through the HPN, which gave birth to the Palembang Charter. The essence of the charter is to maintain journalistic professionalism through journalist competency tests (UKW), as well as to improve the professionalism of media companies.
The Palembang Charter was officially signed by 18 leaders of media companies in Indonesia. Namely Dahlan Iskan (Jawa Pos Group), Agung Adiprasetyo (Kompas Gramedia Group), Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf (Perum LKBN ANTARA), Syafril Nasution (MNC Group), Chairul Tanjung (Transmedia Group), Syafik Umar (Pikiran Rakyat Group), Budiono Darsono (Detikcom Group), Haryono (LPP TVRI), Kukrit Suryo (Suara Merdeka Group), Taruna Jasa Said (Waspada Group), ABG Satria Narada (Bali Post Group), Sofyan Lubis (Pos Kota Group), Ilham Bintang (Bintang Media Group), Erick Thohir (Republika Group), Svida Alisyahbana (Femina Group), James Ryadi (Jakarta Globe Group), Fahry Muhammad (Smart FM Group), and Dodi Reza (Panji Media Network).
In the Charter, press freedom is mentioned as one of the forms of the people’s right to express themselves based on the principles of democracy, justice, the rule of law, human rights, and professionalism.