BANJARMASIN – Observing the rampant practice of journalism that ignores the code of ethics and code of conduct or code of conduct, it is necessary to have mutual understanding and agreement in guarding and maintaining the dignity and dignity of the press by the press community itself.
Because of this, the leaders/chairs of press company organizations and journalist professional organizations which are constituents of the Press Council in South Kalimantan have agreed to form a joint forum. The agreement was formulated at a joint meeting held on Thursday, 29 December 2022.
The meeting agreed on the formation of a joint organization called the Banua Press Consortium. “We want to unify the vision and mission that is formulated into a common understanding. Because of this, the heads of the Constituent Organizations of the Press Council in South Kalimantan agreed to form a joint forum, namely the Banua Press Consortium,” said Chairman of the South Kalimantan Cyber Media Union (SMSI), Anang Fadillah.
The press organizations that are members of the Banua Press Consortium are the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of South Kalimantan, the Indonesian Cyber Media Union (SMSI) of South Kalimantan, the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI), the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), and the Association of Indonesian National Private Radio Broadcasters. (PRSSNI) South Kalimantan. It is planned that the Banua Press Consortium will be declared on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in the seminar room of the FISIP ULM Building.
This declaration activity was also marked by a National Dialogue with the theme “Smart Elections and a Dignified Press, Fighting Hoaxes and Disinformation for Marwah Banua.” Present as the keynote speaker was the Chairman of the Press Council, Dr. Ninik Rahayu, and the speakers were the Chairman of the South Kalimantan Election Commission, Dr. Andi Tenri, and the Dean of FISIP ULM, Prof. Budi Suryadi.
Chairman of the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI) of South Kalimantan, Milhan, hopes that the presence of the Banua Press Consortium can safeguard press freedom by upholding the principles of the Press Law and the code of ethics and code of conduct. “As a press society, we have to build togetherness among journalists and press companies from various media platforms in one forum,” said Milhan who is on the editorial board of apahabar.com.
This senior journalist in South Kalimantan added that it is necessary to increase the capacity, integrity and intellectuality of the press community in South Kalimantan through strengthening joint education and training programs. “All of that can be realized together through this forum,” he said.
The management of the Banua Press Consortium itself is collective in nature with equal status. Therefore, the form of management is in the form of a presidium assisted by administrative function executors. “We agree that there are no written rules such as basic organizational rules. The management is collective with the highest decision being deliberation. Everyone is involved, because this is a common forum,” explained the Chairman of PWI South Kalimantan, Zainal Helmie.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) of South Kalimantan, Dina Qomariah, hopes that the presence of the Banua Press Consortium can strengthen the role of the press community in South Kalimantan to contribute through quality reporting. “Hopefully the press in South Kalimantan can become a pillar of democracy in carrying out its control and balancing functions, as well as being a partner for all stakeholders in realizing a more prosperous South Kalimantan,” he said.
The chairman of the South Kalimantan PRSSNI, Sukma HA also hopes that the presence of this joint forum can complement each other from all press media platforms in South Kalimantan. “So that no one feels better than the other. All the same, regardless of the media is the press community. So, from the press and for the press community itself,” he said.
anangfadhilah
