Senior presenter and journalist Najwa Shihab shared her experiences and deep insights regarding the vital role of journalism in shaping public opinion and driving social change.
Shihab introduced the concept of impactful journalism during the #GenerasiCampus Roadshow at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Tuesday (Sep. 10) at UGM’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM).
This concept was a form of journalism that focuses on reporting events and directly influences public policy and societal awareness.
According to her, critical thinking skills are essential when filtering and processing information in this fast-paced and constantly evolving information era.
Shihab explained that critical thinking skills are important for journalists and the general public in their daily lives. She emphasized that any decision made by an individual will be better if it is based on credible and well-verified information.
“Whatever choices we make, if based on credible information, will improve our lives. That’s why journalism is so important; journalists must be able to deliver accurate information so that the public can make decisions and take actions that can improve their quality of life and sustain their well-being,” she said during the session.
In the workshop, Shihab also introduced examples of impactful journalism, such as investigations conducted by her team at Narasi, the media platform she founded, which successfully uncovered several major cases that shook public opinion.
However, an important aspect discussed was the role of journalism in setting the agenda and determining the issues that deserve public attention.
Shihab recounted one case when the media, including Narasi, collectively raised the “Garuda Biru” (Blue Garuda) issue to raise awareness about the importance of rejecting revisions to the Regional Election Law.
“The media simultaneously filled timelines with the ‘Garuda Biru’ warning. Then, public awareness was formed in a day, and the revision of the Regional Election Law was thwarted due to public pressure,” Shihab explained, highlighting journalism’s power in swiftly and massively shaping public opinion.
In addition to critical thinking skills, Shihab emphasized the importance of creative thinking in journalism. According to her, a journalist’s job is to report facts and make important things interesting for the audience.
Creativity is essential to ensure the public receives the news well in this context.
“A journalist’s task is to make important things interesting so that others realize their importance,” she stated.
At the end of the session, Shihab advised the attending students to continue honing their critical and creative thinking skills in facing the increasingly complex challenges of the times.
She also encouraged them not to be afraid to explore the world of journalism, which is full of challenges but also offers great opportunities to contribute to social change for the better.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif
Photo: Instagram/najwashihab