The Communication Studies Program (Prodi IKO) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (FISIP UMSU), together with the Master’s Program in Communication Studies (MIKOM) of UMSU Postgraduate School, in collaboration with the National News Agency of Indonesia (LKBN) ANTARA, North Sumatra Bureau, held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the UMSU campus on Jalan Mukhtar Basri, Medan, Wednesday (19/11). The activity, also supported by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) of the Republic of Indonesia, carried the theme: “The Future of LKBN ANTARA: Strategic Synergy for Strengthening the National Media Ecosystem.”
In addition to participants from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the North Sumatra Office of Communication and Information (Diskominfo Sumut), academics, and media activists, the FGD was also attended by representatives and managers of several print, online, and radio media outlets in North Sumatra, such as Harian Waspada, Harian Mimbar Umum, Harian Orbit, Waspada.id, Medanbisnisdaily.com, and Voks FM Medan.
The speakers at the event included M. Taufik Hidayat from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as well as a member of the PSO Verification Team, Irwan Arfa, Head of the North Sumatra Bureau of ANTARA, Suryato, Executive Editor III of ANTARA, Porman Mahulae, Head of the IKP Division of Diskominfo North Sumatra, and Dr. Ribut Priadi, Lecturer of the Communication Studies Program, FISIP UMSU.
“We deliberately involved the campus, in this case the Communication Studies Program of FISIP UMSU, as a partner. This FGD was carefully designed with a relevant theme, and we hope it will generate ideas and thoughts related to strengthening the national media, including LKBN ANTARA,” said Irwan Arfa, Head of the North Sumatra Bureau of LKBN ANTARA, during a meeting with the leadership of the Communication Studies Program and the FISIP UMSU Deanery.
FISIP UMSU, particularly the Communication Studies Program, warmly welcomed the activity. “FGDs like this are very beneficial for developing the media ecosystem. We in the Communication Studies Program certainly also share responsibility for strengthening that ecosystem. Hopefully, this FGD collaboration will become one of our contributions,” said Akhyar Anshori, Head of the Communication Studies Program.
Meanwhile, Arifin Saleh, Dean of FISIP UMSU, stated that the collaboration between FISIP UMSU and LKBN ANTARA North Sumatra has been ongoing for a long time. The partnership has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and continues to this day. “This FGD is one implementation of that collaboration. Hopefully, it will continue and have a positive impact on both institutions,” he said.
