The General Chairman of the PWI Central Board, Akhmad Munir, officially inaugurates the PWI Surakarta board for the 2026–2031 term.
progresifjaya.co.id, SURAKARTA — The Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Central Board, Akhmad Munir, officially inaugurated the PWI Surakarta board for the 2026–2031 term at The Sunan Hotel Solo on the evening of Saturday, September 12, 2026.
In this new leadership lineup, Sri Hartanto has been entrusted to lead PWI Surakarta, covering the Solo Raya region—which encompasses Surakarta City and the regencies of Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Karanganyar, Sragen, Klaten, and Boyolali.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by officials from the Central Java Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) as well as Forkopimda representatives from across the Solo Raya region.
In his address, PWI Central Chairman Akhmad Munir highlighted the strategic position PWI Surakarta holds in the history of the national press.
PWI was founded in Solo on February 9, 1946, following a meeting of journalist-freedom fighters who united to defend Indonesia’s independence, that date was subsequently designated as National Press Day.
According to Munir, this long history places a responsibility on PWI Surakarta to continue playing an active role amidst the evolving landscape of the press. He emphasized that the challenges facing the media today differ vastly from the past, driven by the massive influx of digital information.
“While journalists in the past faced the challenge of conveying the story of the nation’s struggle, today’s challenges have evolved alongside the rapid flow of digital information,” Munir said.
He further added, that the press is called upon to help the public become more discerning.
“They must also be capable of distinguishing accurate information amidst the prevalence of fake news, disinformation, and deepfake technology,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, PWI Surakarta Chairman Sri Hartanto stated, that this inauguration is not merely a change of leadership, but a crucial step toward strengthening the integrity and honor of the journalistic profession amidst media disruption and shifting patterns of public information consumption. He noted, that information can now spread within seconds across various platforms, though not all of it is guaranteed to be accurate.
Therefore, Tanto emphasized that the speed of news delivery must not come at the expense of accuracy.
Popularity must not supersede truth, nor should short-term interests override the integrity of the journalistic profession.
The Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Ardi, also welcomed the commitment shown by the new board of PWI Surakarta.
He urged journalists to continue providing high-quality information.
“Information that is credible and accountable to the public,” he said.
According to Respati, the press plays a strategic role in fostering a healthy public sphere, educating the community, and ensuring government transparency.
The press is also seen as a bridge for communication between the government and the public. (Bembo)
