Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Baskoro, an alumnus of UGM’s Anthropology program, has recently achieved international recognition. He represented Southeast Asia and Oceania and was awarded in the prestigious 2025 World Press Photo competition.
His work, “The Impact of Nickel Mining on Halmahera Island,” highlights the environmental impact of nickel mining in Halmahera, Eastern Indonesia.
The awarded piece resulted from an investigative report in Weda, Halmahera, a region suffering from the severe consequences of polluting nickel mining operations, including flooding.
Along with two fellow journalists, Baskoro undertook a ten-day journey to the area, supported by funding from the China Global South Project.
His coverage focused on air pollution and the lives of the O’Hangana Manyawa Indigenous tribe, whose living space is under threat.
“For me, this project was not merely reportage but a form of moral responsibility as both a photographer and anthropologist. I want voices from the margins, like the Indigenous people of Halmahera, to be heard globally and to receive environmental justice,” said Baskoro during an interview on Thursday (Apr. 24).
This is not Baskoro’s first accolade. He previously received an honorable mention at the 2024 SOPA Awards and represented Indonesia in the Megacities project at the 2023 NGV Triennial in Australia.
Born on Nov. 27, 1992, the freelance photojournalist graduated from the Anthropology program at the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM) in 2011.
His passion for visual storytelling began in childhood, initially through drawing and taking photos with his mother’s Nokia 6600 mobile phone.
“Since middle school, I’ve been keeping all my photo archives,” he shared.
Baskoro’s interest in social and journalistic photography grew during his time at UGM. While studying anthropology, he learned from senior students and lecturers, including Professor Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, ethnophotography lecturer Professor Laksono, and anthropological photographer Zamzam Fauzanavi.
He said he was inspired by the visual approaches used in anthropological research, such as photo voice methods, and gained valuable insights from courses like ethnophotography.
“I believe that anthropology and photojournalism complement each other. Visuals not only support data, they also strengthen the narrative,” the alumnus stressed.
During college, he actively covered departmental activities and submitted articles and photographs to local media. Unexpectedly, one of his pieces was published in a national newspaper, Kompas.
“That was my first work being published in a national outlet. I got paid and realized this world was something I wanted to pursue,” Baskoro recalled.
Although he is now recognized as an independent photojournalist whose works appear in international media, Baskoro’s journey was not without challenges.
Early in his career, he tried commercial photography jobs, such as graduation portraits, but soon realized his true calling lay in humanitarian issues.
“What stood out wasn’t the graduation photos I took, but one I captured of a client visiting her ailing grandmother after graduation. That moment made me realize I want to focus on the human side of photography,” he said.
Looking ahead, Baskoro hopes to continue bringing stories from the margins to the global stage. He also aims to strengthen the collaboration between anthropology and visual media further as a tool for social advocacy.
“UGM has played a significant role in shaping my worldview. I’m grateful to have grown in an environment rich in perspectives and values,” he concluded.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographs: Yudha Baskoro