MCIT to Increase the Awareness of Media Literacy in Fighting Hoaxes

Jakarta, InfoPublik – MCIT’s Directorate of Media Management in collaboration with Indonesian Parliament Commission I held a public discussion forum entitled "Increasing the Awareness of Media Literacy to Fight Hoaxes" in Jember Regency, East Java, Sunday (3/24).

The forum featured speakers from both institutions, namely Director of Media Management Siti Meiningsih and Member of Indonesian Parliament Commission I Syaiful Bahri Anshori. In addition, it also featured speaker from The State Islamic Institute of Jember (IAIN)’s Comunication and Broadcasting Research Lecturer Mochammad Dawud.

Siti Meiningsih said that despite their advantages, mass media and social media also have negative impact such as lack of confirmation and spread of hoaxes or hate speech. Therefore, the awareness of media literacy is important for the community to help them fighting the negative impacts.

According to her, media literacy is the ability to understand, analyze, and deconstruct image branding constructed by the media. This ability is important so that the viewers (including children) as media consumers become aware of how the media is constructed and accessed.

"Media literacy as we are currently doing takes various form such as public discussions, folk shows and are held in schools, campuses, and in the communities. In addition, MCIT also established anti-hoax community," she said.

She invited people to "Filter Before Sharing". This means that people are implored to choose and select the information before spreading it. "Let's make ourselves a positive content-making media in an environment that inspires and enlightens the community," she said.

Meanwhile, Member of Indonesian Parliament Commission I, Syaiful Bahri Anshori, said that in the future we will establish cooperation in Islamic jurisprudence literacy since the majority of East Java people are affiliated with NU organizations, who are more familiar with Islamic jurisprudence rather than state regulations.

This discussion forum was attended by 152 participants consisting of communities of leaders as well as communities of youth and women in Jember.

Reporter: Wandi

Translator: Wilda Stiana