Lemhannas Calls on the Press to Build National Journalism. What Is It?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) of Indonesia, Ace Hasan Syadzily, has called on journalists to foster national journalism. What does this entail?

"I invite all journalists to build national journalism," said Ace during the National Coordination Meeting (Rakernas) of the National Journalists Forum (FWK) 2026 at the Luminor Hotel, Central Jakarta, as quoted from a press release from Lemhanas RI on Saturday (24/10/2026).

National journalism embodies the spirit of journalism aimed at achieving Indonesia Gold 2045.

Ace explained that national journalism is critical out of love for the nation, independent as it is accountable to the public, courageous as it is based on facts, and professional as it adheres to ethics.

The media plays a crucial role in the competition for influence in the information space amid geopolitical rivalries.

The press must also adhere to the concept of Wawasan Nusantara, viewing Indonesia as an integral unity while holding onto the Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

The media should strengthen unity and support national interests.

"The key point is how the press can become a strategic force that maintains the quality of information, strengthens unity, safeguards democracy, enhances national life, and ensures that national transformation remains rooted in national interests," Ace stated in his keynote speech titled "The Role of the Press in Guarding the Nation Towards Indonesia Gold 2045."

According to Ace, the national journalism should convey differences without escalating hostility and should not commodify conflict.

He cited Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts, who noted that the digital communication environment can give rise to propaganda, misinformation, and polarization.

Thus, journalists must understand not only the content of information but also its origins, dissemination networks, underlying interests, and how the information is amplified and spread.

Moving forward, the role of the press should no longer be limited to merely conveying news but also to helping the public understand what is happening, why it is occurring, what the implications are, and how various facts are interconnected.

About the FWK National Coordination Meeting

The National Coordination Meeting of the National Journalists Forum (FWK) is being held over two days, from October 24-25, 2026, with attendance of no fewer than 100 FWK members and officials, including 15 provincial area coordinators from across Indonesia.

FWK Coordinator Raja Parlindungan Pane stated that FWK was founded by several senior journalists initiated by Hendry Ch Bangun, former Deputy Chair of the Press Council (2019-2022) and Chairman of the Central PWI for the 2023-2025 term.

"The founders of FWK are journalists with at least 20 years of experience, certified as senior journalists and who care deeply about national issues," said Raja Pane.

FWK was established in October 2025, precisely about a year ago.

Hendry Bangun remarked that the presence of Lemhannas Governor Ace Hasan Syadzily at the FWK Rakernas is like finding a match for a cap.

They are conducting a short course on national journalism at Lemhannas.

Among those present at the FWK Rakernas were Secretary General of Central PWI Martin Slamet, Chairman of JMSI Dr. Teguh Sentosa, Chairman of FPRMI Bernadus Wilson, and Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Convergent Media (AMKI) Dadang Rachmat.