Students get the scoop on journalism

The Jakarta Post , Tangerang | Sun, 04/19/2009 1:57 PM | Discover


Ambadini, a law student at Syeh Maulana Yusuf University (Unis) in Tangerang, did not expect she would land a journalism position at her local paper so quickly.
The 27-year-old recently completed a journalism-training seminar along with 50 other students from universities across Jakarta and was promptly offered a reporting position with the Tangerang Tribune Daily.
Ambadini, who is in her last semester at university, said she enjoyed her new job as it presented new challenges.
"The journalism training was very effective. I learned a lot about the role of a young journalist both in the field and behind the editorial desk. I learned how to write reports using the correct journalistic jargon and developed my photography skills," she told The Jakarta Post.
Ambadini and four other students, despite not having finished their studies, were recruited by local newspapers following their month-long practical training at various editorial offices.
Four others who partook in the training now work for Satellite News and Radar Banten.
"It's really surprising. I have started working as a cadet journalist with the newspaper.
I have been assigned to cover news for the sport and city desks by the editor-in-chief, " Dini said.

Komsurizal, an editor at the Tangerang Tribune Daily, said the paper recruited her because she was the only participant training at the paper's editorial office who showed real potential of becoming a journalist.
The training program was conducted by the Tangerang University Students Forum (Format) in cooperation with Tangerang's Daily Journalists Working Group (Pokja Wartawan Harian Tangerang) between August 2 and Sept. 2 last year.
The training, titled "Menggugat Nilai-Nilai Kritis Mahasiswa Melalui Media Massa" was undertaken by 50 students from Unis, STIE Yuppentex, Asyukriyah, STIMIK Rahardja and Muhamadiyah University.
"We wanted university students to have a basic knowledge in journalism and we received a warm response from media organizations, so eventually the training materialized, " Agus, the program chairman, said.
The training was held every Saturday at the Unis campus in Tangerang municipality.
Multa Fidrus, the Jakarta Post's Tangerang-based journalist, introduced participants to the basics of journalism and the use of Bahasa Indonesia Jurnalistik writing techniques.
Ayu Cipta from Koran Tempo taught participants how to write feature stories while Joniansyah from the same publication informed them about identifying news and potential sources.
M. Choiri, from RCTI, gave an introduction to television journalism while his wife Dewi Gustiana, from the Suara Pembaruan Afternoon Daily, taught participants the necessary skills for conducting interviews and with a news source.
M. Koharuidin from TV One led the participants through the ropes of investigative reporting while Celestinus Trias HP from Warta Kota Daily explored photojournalism with the enthusiastic students. "We merely initiated the training just to broaden our knowledge without any sponsors to support the program," Siswanto, the organizing committee chairman, told the Post.
He said following the training, the participants sat a comprehensive test to measure their understanding of the principles of journalism. The ten best participants were then offered internships with local newspapers. (The Jakarta Post)

Kang dan Nong Aktif Lestarikan Budaya dan Pariwisata

Beragam budaya dari nilai-nilai etis masyarakat telah berabad tahun lamanya berkembang di Kabupaten Tangerang. Namun sebagian diantaranya mulai pudar digerus arus globalisasi dan ditinggalkan para generasi selanjutnya.
Demikian menjadi perhatian salah satu finalis Kang dan Nong Kabupaten Tangerang 2008, Rani Anggorowati (19).
Ia bertekad melalui momen Pemilihan Kang dan Nong ini, bisa berpartisipasi mengembangkan budaya dan sektor pariwisata di Kabupaten Tangerang. Pasalnya, putra dan putri daerah merupakan sebagaian generasi masyarakat yang memiliki peran penting menggerakkan kembali nilai-nilai budaya, tradisi dan pengembangan pariwisata.
Diantara peninggalan budaya yang perlu dikembangkan, ungkap Rani, ialah batik khas Tangerang. Menurut Rani, kekhasan batik asal Tangerang terletak pada ragam ornamen, guratan corak dan dibuat dengan oleh warga dipinggiran. “Ini (batik) perlu ditetapkan dan diperkenalkan kepada masyarakat bahwa Kabupaten Tangerang memang kaya sekali dengan potensi budaya,” kata Rani.
Oleh karenanya, dirinya mengaku tengah memperdalam pengetahuan dengan cara menelusuri sejarah batik Kabupaten Tangerang dan mempelajari peluang pengembangan batik tersebut ke kancah nasional. “Saya bertekad untuk dapat menjadi duta budaya dan pariwisata yang mempunyai instuisi dan kepandaian mempromosikan dan mensosialisasikan produk khas Kabupaten Tangerang,” tandas Rani
Berbeda dengan Rani, Bunaya Sari (22) mengungkapkan, banyak peninggalan sejarah dan kebudayaan harus dilestarikan. Dengan mengetahui karakter sejarah, Kabupaten Tangerang akan lebih maju dengan daerah lain.
Kolaborasi kebudayaan masyarakat Tangerang dengan Tionghoa, misalnya, perlu tetap dilestarikan. Termasuk melestarikan hasil sejarah percampuran kedua kebudayaan ini seperti Klenteng Teluknaga di pesisir pantai utara, wayang potehi, gambang kromong, tarian cokek dan lainnya. “Sebagai calon duta budaya dan pariwisata adalah suatu tugas, dan bagai mana caranya aset tersebut menjadi sebuah ikon daerah nantinya. Kelestarian budaya adalah tanggung jawab kita semua,” kata Naya.
Ketua Komisi A DPRD Kabupaten Tangerang sekaligus Pembina Paguyuban Kang dan Nong Kabupaten Tangerang, Intan Nurul Hikmah mengapresisasi pandangan pelestarian budaya yang dimiliki para finalis. Menurutnya duta daerah tidak harus cantik, tetapi memiliki visi melestarikan dan memajukan kebudayaan masyarakat. “Para Kontestan finalis kang dan nong harus memiliki suatu instuisi dan kepandaian menyusun strategi promosi dan sosialisasi agar budaya dan pariwisata dapat cepat familiar di masyarakat,” ucap Intan kepada Tangerang Tribun.
Sementara Wakil Bupati H Rano Karno berpesan agar Kang dan Nong memiliki strategi kedepan untuk mempromosikan budaya dan pariwisata asli Tangerang. “Mereka akan menjadi duta budaya dan pariwisata yang sesungguhnya,” tandasnya.(poto blog ini oleh M Jakwan and Surya Sumirat/Tibun)