Friday, 23 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Communications and Informatics Agency of North Sumatra Province is supporting a series of events marking the 19th anniversary of the Indonesian Women Journalists Forum (Forum Jurnalis Perempuan Indonesia, FJPI) in North Sumatra. The support includes publicising information through official social media channels, displaying digital event flyers on video walls, and providing professional development opportunities for women journalists through a photography workshop.
The support was discussed at a meeting between the FJPI board and anniversary organising committee and the Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Communications and Informatics Agency, Dr Erwin Hotmansyah Hasibuan, S.STP., M.M., on 19 October 2026. The meeting took place at the agency's office in Medan.Erwin welcomed the delegation alongside the agency's Secretary, Achmad Yazid Matondang, and the Head of the Public Information and Communications Division, Porman Mahulae.
The FJPI North Sumatra delegation comprised its Chairwoman, Khairunnisak Lubis; Deputy Secretary and Chairwoman of the anniversary organising committee, Irin Juwita; Sri Endang, representing the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) division; and Laura Silalahi from the public relations division.The meeting gave FJPI an opportunity to outline its role in strengthening women journalists' professional skills and position in society, while presenting its plans for the 19th anniversary celebrations. It also opened up opportunities for cooperation between the journalists' organisation and the provincial government to expand access to public information and advance women's empowerment.
At the start of the meeting, Khairunnisak Lubis explained the organisation's development and FJPI's contribution to improving women's skills and social roles, particularly in journalism.
Khairunnisak said women journalists played an important role in delivering informative news while raising public awareness of a range of social issues. These include reporting on inequality, the protection of women and children, and other matters of significance to the wider public."The role of women journalists must also be strengthened by improving their skills, professionalism and ability to adapt to developments in media technology," she said.
Her remarks highlighted the importance of professional development for women journalists as the media industry continues to change, increasingly shaped by digital technology. Presenting information professionally, producing compelling visual content and adapting to changing news consumption habits are essential to maintaining journalistic standards.FJPI North Sumatra aims to support this process through training programmes and organisational activities that give women journalists opportunities to develop their professional capabilities.
Beyond individual skills development, the organisation also seeks to expand women's contributions to social and economic life. For this reason, the 19th anniversary programme will not be limited to internal organisational activities. It will also include events involving women entrepreneurs and women from a range of professional backgrounds.
Irin Juwita, chairwoman of the FJPI anniversary organising committee, said the meeting also served to introduce the activities planned to mark the organisation's 19th anniversary.
The committee is planning several events, including a dedicated photography workshop for women journalists, a photography competition, an exhibition for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and a fashion show. The celebrations will culminate in a gala dinner and awards recognising women who have made notable contributions in their respective fields.The photography workshop is one of the key activities, as compelling and informative images have become increasingly important in modern news reporting. Press photographs do more than complement written reports; they also help the public understand events through relevant, accurate and informative visual representations.
Support for the workshop will give participants an opportunity to deepen their technical knowledge with guidance from professionals at the North Sumatra Provincial Communications and Informatics Agency. The organising committee hopes the partnership will improve the quality of the event while delivering tangible benefits to the participating journalists.Outside journalism, the MSME exhibition will provide business owners with a platform to showcase their products and explore new marketing opportunities. This element of the programme demonstrates that the FJPI anniversary will also highlight women's economic development.
The gala dinner and awards ceremony will recognise women whose achievements and contributions have distinguished them in their respective fields. The awards are intended to bring their work to wider public attention while encouraging other women to become inspiring role models.
The Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Communications and Informatics Agency, Erwin Hotmansyah Hasibuan, praised FJPI's broad commitment to advancing women's rights. He also noted that the organisation was active across several fields, enabling it to make a significant contribution to women's advancement in North Sumatra.
"This is not simply a journalists' organisation; it is already similar to a non-governmental organisation (NGO), operating independently across various sectors without government involvement," he said.Erwin also supported the planned photography workshop for women journalists at the Transparansi Hall of the North Sumatra Provincial Communications and Informatics Agency. He suggested involving the agency's staff and specialists to ensure the training was tailored to the participants' needs.
Further assistance will focus on publicising the planned events. The agency has agreed to support promotional efforts through its official social media channels and facilitate the display of digital event flyers on 20 video walls owned by the North Sumatra Provincial Government.These video walls are located in Medan and several other areas, including Simalungun, Parapat, Sibolga and Sipirok. Using these digital information displays is expected to broaden the campaign's reach and help more people learn about the FJPI North Sumatra 19th anniversary celebrations.
"The agency is also ready to support publicity by sharing information through its official social media channels and facilitating the display of digital flyers on 20 video walls belonging to the North Sumatra Provincial Government. These are located in Medan and several regencies and cities, including Simalungun, Parapat, Sibolga and Sipirok. The aim is to reach as wide an audience as possible," Erwin said.This support will enable FJPI North Sumatra to reach a larger audience by combining social media promotion with digital outdoor displays. A well-planned publicity campaign can also make it easier for the public to access information about the scheduled activities.
At the end of the meeting, Erwin offered advice on selecting a venue for the celebrations. He emphasised the importance of coordination between government agencies and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forum Koordinasi Pimpinan Daerah, Forkopimda) in organising the main anniversary event.He also recommended that the organising committee coordinate with the North Sumatra Provincial Cooperative and MSME Agency when planning and running the MSME exhibition. As a potential partner, Erwin named the agency's head, Yuliani Siregar, who could provide guidance and help facilitate cooperation.
"For technical coordination of the MSME exhibition, I also recommend that FJPI liaise with the North Sumatra Provincial Cooperative and MSME Agency. Its head is also a woman, Ms Yuliani Siregar. This would allow both sides to work together and exchange advice and support," Erwin said.The collaboration is expected to strengthen the exhibition and provide MSME businesses with additional opportunities to showcase their products. Cooperation between the women journalists' organisation and regional government agencies could also help bring publicity, professional development and economic empowerment together within a single programme of activities.
As FJPI North Sumatra marks its 19th anniversary, its ambitions extend beyond celebrating the organisation's establishment. They include improving women journalists' professional skills, strengthening women's role in society and expanding economic opportunities. The support provided by the North Sumatra Provincial Communications and Informatics Agency demonstrates how cooperation can increase the reach of the celebrations and enhance their benefits for the public. (IDNC)REPORTER: Sri Endang Lasmiaty | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
