UNS — The Community Service Team from Strategic Communication Research Group (RG) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held a workshop on citizen journalism in Hadiluwih Village Hall, Sumberlawang Sub-district, Sragen District on Sunday (13/9/2020). The event entitled “Citizen Journalism as One of the Pillars to Maximize the Economic Potential in Hadiluwih Village, Sumberlawang Sub-District, Sragen District” was held to motivate and educate Karang Taruna in Hadiluwih Village, Sragen to take a role in increasing the economic potential in the village by utilizing the new media.
The Village Chief of Hadiluwih, Kuswandi offered his gratitude for the Community Service Team who have selected his village as a target of the community service program. He is optimistic that the young generation in the village will be able to apply the knowledge shared by the team. The Chief of Strategic Communication RG, Dr. Andre Rahmanto in his remark, mentioned that the program is different because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this does not reduce the community service team intention to implement the event, with various adjustment, one of which is reducing the number of workshop participants following Covid-19 health protocol.
The young generation needs the motivation to maintain their spirit in contributing to the development of their village. The RG chooses to share knowledge on citizen journalism using new media which is not a foreign practice for the young generation. In the event, the first material on “Optimizing Social Media in Increasing Regional Economic Potential” delivered by Monika Sri Yuliarti, M.Si. in her material, Monika emphasized that mapping of regional potential is important for content material, both for personal and village official social media. The second material on “citizen journalism” to support the Regional Economy Potential” was delivered by Albert Muhammad Isrun Naini, Ph.D., who discussed the importance of creativity in applying citizen journalism. With this material, the young generation can optimize their social media one of which is by reporting interesting incidents and the village’s potential that can be sent to certain media to be able to generate money for them.
Sixteen members of Karang Taruna of Hadiluwih Village joined all sessions enthusiastically. At the end of the event, each participant delivered their plan for social media usage to increase the economic potential both for their personal and rural economic potential. Humas UNS
Reporter: Dwi Hastuti
