SABACIREBON – The Rector of Widyatama University (UTama), Prof. Dr. H. Dadang Suganda, held a Media Gathering on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, with a number of journalists from mainstream media outlets in the city of Bandung. In front of a number of journalists representing print, electronic, and online media, the Rector of Widyatama University (UTama) acknowledged and reminded his staff that establishing and maintaining good relationships with journalists from various media outlets is very important. According to Prof. Dadang, this is because through publication in the mass media, all forms of activities and policies will more easily reach the public. Conversely, various community aspirations and government policies can also be easily obtained through the mass media.
According to the rector, news and articles in the mainstream media are very important amid the wave of information published on various social media digital platforms. “I often get my first information through news and articles in the mass media, especially those published in the Pikiran Rakyat and Kompas newspapers,” he added. In this era of competition between information published in mainstream media and social media, the public generally considers news and articles in mainstream media to be more reliable than information from social media.
Trust in information from mainstream media is due to the fact that conventional media, both print and electronic, are managed professionally and have a code of journalistic ethics.
Senior journalist at Jawa Pos newspaper and former Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Dahlan Iskan, even believes that news presented by mainstream media is generally based on verified and carefully selected sources. In addition, mainstream media editors have strict control over what is published, ensuring the accuracy and balance of the news.
Mainstream media has a wide reach because it can reach a diverse audience, especially through television, newspapers, and radio. Dahlan Iskan also believes that the level of public trust in mainstream media content is because the news tends to provide more in-depth analysis and broader context. In this regard, Dahlan argues that social media is an online platform that allows users to interact, share content, and communicate with one another. This includes platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and others.
In the world of social media, users can be both producers and consumers of content at the same time. Every individual can share opinions, photos, videos, and information. Content on social media can be very diverse, including news, entertainment, memes, tutorials, and others. Information posted on social media is not always verified or strictly filtered beforehand, unlike mainstream media. This can lead to the spread of false or inaccurate information.
Representatives from TVRI Bandung, Pikiran Rakyat Bandung Group, and Tribun Group attended the Media Gathering event. Meanwhile, Widyatama University was represented by the Rector, Vice Rector 1 DR. Wedi Rusmawan Kusumah, Dean of FEB Dr. H. Nuryaman, Dean of FT Dr. Didit Damur Rochman, Dean of FDKV Deden Maulana A., Drs., M.Ds, Dean of FISIP Dr. Soni Akhmad Nulhaqim, Director of Postgraduate Studies Prof. Dr. Reiza D. Dienaputra, University Secretary Dra. Uning Kuraesin, MSi, MBKM Coordinator Ir. Udin Komarudin, M.T., and a number of Bureau Heads. Prof. Dr. Dadang Suganda, who is also a professor at UNPAD Bandung, also explained various government policies, including the program of student freedom in attending lectures through the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program.
According to the Rector, the MBKM Program at the university he leads has been implemented through collaboration with a number of companies, particularly in the city of Bandung, by placing students in off-campus lectures at certain companies accompanied by lecturers who are practitioners from those companies. The MBKM Program is beneficial not only because students receive knowledge through formal lectures on campus, but also because they gain knowledge and work experience in their chosen fields. The credits earned in this program are counted as part of the formal education of MBKM participants. The Rector also mentioned the series of government policies issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, including the ranking of universities based on data from the relevant ministry, which divides higher education institutions into research-based universities and learning-based universities.
He said that so far, the obstacle to the management and smooth running of the learning process at each university is in the area of New Student Admissions (PMB). “Every university, especially private universities, faces fierce competition in attracting new students, including facing state universities as one of their competitors,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Student Affairs and Alumni Bureau of an accredited university, M. Fauzi, said that a number of UTama students have successfully achieved various achievements in competitions at the provincial, national, and even international levels. Read also: Seven Airports Closed, 50 Flights Affected In 2023, a number of students from various faculties at Widyatama achieved at least 99 achievements in various international competitions, 73 achievements in various national competitions, and 123 achievements in various provincial competitions in West Java. It was stated that in 2024, there will be a number of events and competitions of various types, both provincial, national, and international, held both on and off the campus of Widyatama University.
Source: https://cirebon.pikiran-rakyat.com/pendidikan/pr-048035473/rektor-utama-prof-dadang-suganda-ingatkan-pentingnya-jaga-hubungan-baik-dengan-media-massa
