Serang, Banten. Indonesia’s Press Council and the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) reaffirmed their commitment to press integrity at the closing of the 2026 National Press Day (HPN) in Serang, Banten, on Monday, as journalists staged a protest against ongoing intimidation and criminalization of media workers.

Press Council Chairman Komaruddin Hidayat said rapid changes in how the public consumes information have become a major challenge to the sustainability of professional journalism. He added that audiences increasingly rely on social media accessed through smartphones, where information is often unverified and lacks accountability.

“People no longer wake up waiting for newspapers to arrive. They wake up and immediately pick up their phones to look for information — and there is simply too much of it,” Komaruddin said.

He warned that social media platforms tend to favor emotional and sensational content to attract attention, increasing the risk of disinformation. This, he said, contrasts with conventional journalism, which is grounded in rationality, objectivity, and responsibility.

Komaruddin added that the shift has redirected advertising spending toward social media platforms, placing significant economic pressure on the press industry. The disruption, he said, has led to declining revenues and layoffs at media companies.

The Press Council has urged the government to take concrete steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of the press, including fairer distribution of advertising spending.

“We hope there will be government intervention to ensure advertising fairness, so it is not overwhelmingly absorbed by social media, but also helps maintain the vitality and survival of the press,” Komaruddin said.

Despite the challenges, he said public trust in the press remains relatively high, particularly when society seeks reliable information on critical issues. He called on journalists to safeguard that trust by upholding professionalism, objectivity, and balanced reporting.

PWI Chairman Akhmad Munir said the press is not merely an information industry but a cornerstone of democracy and national development. He stressed that adherence to journalistic ethics distinguishes credible journalism from the uncontrolled flow of information in the digital space.

“Ethics are what differentiate mainstream journalism from social media content without responsibility. Journalists are therefore required to work professionally, accurately, and in a balanced manner,” Munir said.

Based on data from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), 549 journalists were laid off throughout 2025, up from 373 journalists in the previous year.

As of the end of December 2025, the Press Council recorded that 1,136 media companies had been verified, either administratively or factually.

Protest Highlights Press Freedom Concerns

The HPN commemoration was accompanied by a demonstration by a group of journalists outside the Banten Provincial Government Center (KP3B) in Serang, coinciding with the event’s closing ceremony.

The protesters said the action was aimed at drawing attention to continued intimidation, criminalization and pressure faced by journalists. Budi Iskandar, the protest’s field coordinator, said the journalists were not rejecting National Press Day but criticizing what they see as a gap between the ceremony and meaningful protection for press freedom.

“We are not rejecting HPN because this is a joyful day for journalists,” Budi said. “But on the field, there is still criminalization of journalistic work.”

Protesters carried placards calling for an end to intimidation against journalists, enforcement of the Press Law, and stronger protection for freedom of expression and the public’s right to information. They also criticized the continued use of general criminal provisions against journalists, arguing that disputes involving journalistic work should be resolved through the Press Council, as mandated under Law No. 40/1999 on the Press.

The 2026 National Press Day carried the theme “Healthy Press, Sovereign Economy, Strong Nation.” Events ran from Feb. 6 to 9 and included social programs, the distribution of 3,000 food aid packages, environmental activities, a fun walk, the National Mass Media Convention and the PWI Journalism Awards.