SEMARANG — The Communication Science Program at the Faculty of Communications and Informatics (FKI), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), continued its benchmarking series by visiting the ANTARA News Agency Central Java Bureau on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). This visit is part of an ongoing effort to design a curriculum aligned with media industry needs, following a previous benchmarking visit to Universitas Diponegoro’s (UNDIP) Communication Science Program.
The Head of the UMS Communication Science Bachelor Program, Sidiq Setyawan, stated that input from media practitioners is highly necessary to ensure that campus learning can effectively address workforce demands.
“We are developing a curriculum based on industry needs. Therefore, we want to gain input regarding the competencies currently required so that our graduates are better prepared to enter the professional world,” Sidiq said.
The Head of ANTARA Central Java Bureau, Teguh Imam Wibowo, noted that digital developments and artificial intelligence (AI) present both challenges and opportunities for the journalism sector. According to him, AI should be positioned as an assisting tool, rather than a replacement for the human role.
He also emphasized that the ability to verify information remains a primary competency that Communication Science students must possess. Amidst the rapid flow of information, prospective journalists must be accustomed to fact-checking through various sources.
“Journalism students need to be made aware of the importance of verification. This is non-negotiable as a core competency in the world of journalism,” Teguh added.
A similar sentiment was echoed by ANTARA Photo Editor Rahmadi Rekotomo. He argued that universities must not abandon fundamental journalism skills, including the ability to write according to standard Indonesian grammatical rules.
“These standard and correct writing fundamentals must be taught to students as a foundation to advance into various professions, particularly journalism,” Rekotomo explained.
During the discussion, UMS Communication Science lecturers also explored the competencies required for Public Relations (PR) graduates. ANTARA highlighted that PR students need to master more humanistic media relations strategies, alongside the ability to draft newsworthy press releases and produce photographs that meet journalistic standards.
The benchmarking activity concluded with the handover of a memento from the UMS FKI Communication Science Program to the ANTARA Central Java Bureau, symbolizing a strengthened synergy between the academic world and the media industry.