The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (ISIPOL), University of Medan Area held a seminar entitled "Journalists & Media Facing the Challenges of the Wave of Digitalization" on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at the Convention Hall Campus I, Medan Area University Jl. Pool No. 1 Medan Estate.
The seminar was attended by UMA Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dadan Ramdan M.Eng. M.Sc. as the opening of the event as well as a resource person, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, FISIPOL, Beby Mashito Batubara, S.Sos, MAP, as for the speakers present, Yosep Adi Prasetyo who is the chairman of the press council, Listom Damanik who is the chairman of AJI Medan, Putra Sinik who is the chairman of the Company Union North Sumatra and guided by Ara Auza, S. Kom. M. Ikom who is a lecturer at the Communication Science Study Program at the University of Medan.
UMA Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dadan Ramdan M.Eng M.Sc said that the print media is currently being eroded by digital technology which is considered to be faster in conveying information. "However, we have to be smart in choosing which one is good and what is not, let alone a lot of hoax news,"
The Chancellor of UMA believes that the future of conventional media is still needed. "Indeed, now all information is quickly presented via digital. But I believe people still need conventional media, ”he said.
And continued by the Head of the Press Council, Yosep Adi Prasetyo, said that currently many conventional (print) media in Indonesia have closed and migrated online along with the times, especially the revolutionary era 4.0 which is rapidly developing. On the other hand, the print media business has been hit by economic difficulties that have made paper prices soar by 27 percent in the past two years.
"The condition of several printed media which have been closed is not due to the onslaught of the emergence of online media. But in fact, they were forced to close down due to expensive raw material prices and mismanagement of the company, "
Yosep revealed that digital data stated that out of 262 million Indonesians, 132 million internet users, and 371.4 million mobile phone users. One person not only has one cellphone, but there are two or more. Imagine if one person has many social media groups, of course, the information is conveyed quickly, while internet users in Indonesia are dominated by the millennial generation, reaching 49 percent with 18-25 years of age and 85 percent they have smartphones.
