KANDANGAN (TABIRkota) – Journalists from Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST), Hulu Sungai Selatan (HSS) and Tapin regencies of South Kalimantan attended a training of journalists’ capacity building, Sunday (March 12, 2023) in Kandangan, the capital of HSS.
The journos are members of an organization called the Mitra Insan Pers Daerah (MIPD).
The training of journalists’ capacity building presented three speakers, consisting of Rendy Tisna (TVRI of Banjarmasin), Fathur (Antara Kalsel) and a senior reporter from TabirKota.Com, Rusmanadi.
The training participants came from journalist organizations “Aswat” (Tapin Journalists Association), the Murakata Journalists Forum (HST) and the HSS Journalists Association.
HSS Regent H Achmad Fikry who officially opened the training, said that journalists have an important role in conveying community’s aspirations which aren’t covered by local government.
“I, as the head of regencial government of HSS, place journalists in an important and strategic position, both as a channel for community’s aspirations, and also as an overseer of the policies we make”, Regent Achmad Fikry explained.
He further emphasized that journalism is essential for a variety of reasons.
“It keeps people informed about what is happening in the world around them. In a complex and increasingly globalized society, it is more important than ever to be aware of what is happening beyond one’s immediate community”, he said.
Journalism, Regent Achmad Fikry continued, plays an important role in holding those in power accountable.
Journalists are critical in keeping elected officials and government agencies honest at the local news, province, or national levels.
“It helps to foster a well-informed citizenry, which is essential for the functioning of any democracy. In a world where information is increasingly available, it is more important than ever to be able to sort through the noise and find reliable sources of information”, he stated.
Meanwhile, Rusmanadi from TabirKota.Com delivered a session on disaster journalism or reporting on disasters.
“Disasters include natural events such as floods, earthquakes and landslides, and situations sparked by human actions, such as forest fires and traffic accidents”, he said.
When a disaster strikes, Rusmanadi continued, the most important story that journalists can tell their audiences in the first instance will be about safety.
“What they should do to ensure they are safe, where they can go if they need help, and who they should listen to”, he pointed out.
In describing what has happened, where, how and why, journalists may need to take complex scientific information, and explain it in a way that broad audiences will understand.
If the situation is new, then journalists will need to rapidly educate themselves about what is known about this kind of disaster, and which expert sources they should consult. (sah/alf/fer)
