CIT Minister Expects Journalists To Take Competency Test in 2016

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Oleh Astra Desita, Rabu, 10 Februari 2016 | 16:55 WIB - Redaktur: Filmon Warouw - 708


Central Lombok, InfoPublik – Indonesian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Rudiantara, expected the journalists in Indonesia to take journalist competency test in 2016 to obtain journalist certificate.

"From about 15,000 journalists registered in PWI [the Indonesian Journalists Association], only 5,000 have passed the UKW [Journalist Competency Test]. The certification is needed because it is part of profession development," said Minister Rudiantara on the sideline of the National Press Day (HPN) 2016 celebration in Mandalika Special Economic Zone in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday (2/9).
 
According to Mr. Rudiantara, the motivation to follow the competency test must come from the journalists. "I think it must be from the journalists themselves, except for the major media which already have their own system and even issue their own certification. However, the majority of these media are not that firm in system," he said.
 
He explained that Indonesia will not go back to the past past when everything was controlled by the government. Now, the Government will continue to provide facilities for the convenience of the press.
 
"We also want a strong, qualified, and competent press, not one who easily ask apology like 'journalists without media'. The Government’s role is to encourage. The Government cannot do what the past government did, because now, press does not need the government's permission," he said.
 
Earlier, PWI targeted 7,000 journalists to take competency test in 2016. The Chairman of PWI, Margiono, in Mataram on Sunday (7/2) said that the competency test must become the organization’s priority. Therefore, it must be supported by the entire board of provincial PWI.
 
"We understand that a number of regional PWI boards might encounter obstacles in organizing the competency test, for example, in funding. But, it is the boards’ responsibility to find the solution for the problem," said Mr. Margiono at the PWI working meeting as a part of the series of HPN 2016 celebration.
 
According to Margiono, competency test is important for PWI to ensure that member journalists have the qualification to carry out their profession. PWI data showed that in 2015, 5,363 people had been declared: competent as journalist. They are categorized into three levels of journalists: wartawan muda (junior journalist), wartawan madya (intermediate journalist), and wartawan utama (premier journalist). (Translator: Penni Patmawati Rusman)