West Java Governor Hopes Press Will Be a Critical Friend
The Head of the West Java Communication and Information Office (Diskominfo), Adi Komar, stated that current technological developments have transformed the landscape of how the public obtains information and news. The way people now receive and access news has become very different.
Adi made the remarks while reading the welcoming speech of Governor Dedi Mulyadi, affectionately known as KDM, at the 2026 West Java Provincial Conference of the Indonesian Journalists Association (Konferprov PWI Jabar) at Horison Ultima, Bandung City, on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
Opening the speech, the Head of Diskominfo Jabar conveyed warm greetings from the Governor to the journalists attending the Konferprov PWI Jabar. The Governor was unable to attend due to unavoidable commitments. The Governor was visiting a number of areas to assess problems faced by the community.
In the past, Adi Komar said, people relied on newspapers, radio and television. Now, news comes from everywhere, such as social media, WhatsApp groups and short videos. There is even content produced by AI machines.
Adi also noted that fake news remains a frequent problem in West Java. Some parties have even created fake content in the Governor’s name. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has also identified a number of such fake contents.
Information problems also arise in various issues that are very close to people’s lives. Everyone saw, for example, that the 2026 West Java SPMB issue was not merely a technical public service matter, but also developed into a public communication problem when the public needed fast, clear and trustworthy information.
This demonstrates one thing: when the government is late in providing information, the empty space is quickly filled by other information, which is not necessarily true.
“This is where I see the strategic position of press personnel. Moreover, the press has a function that cannot simply be replaced by algorithms,” he stressed.
He added that algorithms can know what everyone wants to see. Artificial intelligence can produce writing in seconds. Social media can make information spread within minutes.
“However, journalism has something far more important: verification, context, independence and accountability to the public,” he said. Therefore, amid the flood of information, the public actually needs more quality journalism.
According to him, the public needs journalists who are not merely the first to report something, but who ensure that what is reported is indeed worthy of trust.
The West Java Provincial Government, he continued, does not want the media to only convey positive things about the government. On the contrary, he hopes the press can be a critical friend.
“If the government makes a mistake, remind us. If the public has problems that the government has not yet heard, convey them. The press and the government both work for the public,” he stressed.
Closing his speech, Governor Dedi expressed hope that the West Java PWI Conference would produce useful programmes. He also invited journalists to work together to combat fake news and build a healthy information space in West Java.
“The government cannot work alone. We very much hope for the support of journalist colleagues in all regions, both at the provincial and district levels,” he concluded.
The Chairman of the 2026 West Java PWI Conference Committee, Roberto Purba, expressed appreciation for the support of various parties, especially from the Bandung City Government, the West Java Provincial Government, BJB, BRI, BJB Syariah, Djarum Foundation, the West Java Regional Police, Semen Kujang, Summarecon Bandung and Fiesta.