UNS — A student from the Communication Science Program Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta represents Indonesia in Global Communication Forum. This excellent student is Odie Yohandi, a third-semester student who participated in the international forum held by Universiti Utara Malaysia online through the Zoom Meeting and Facebook Live.
Odie, who is also active as a manager in the Student Association of Communication Science Program (Himakom) FISIP UNS, shared the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, including its policies and its impact on people’s lives. “In Indonesia, the government implemented PPKM policy (partial-lockdown) following the increase in daily positive cases. This policy has a significant impact on the economic and tourism sectors due to mobility limitation,” Odie explained to other delegations from Malaysia and Pakistan.
Odie also added that the Indonesian government has tried to disseminate information through social media and opinion leaders. Public communication through new and conventional media continues sharing information until the smallest level in the community.
“Influencers from community leaders, actresses, educational figures, and well-known figures are all help government to promote its program,” Odiea added in the event held on Saturday (17/7/2021).
Public relation performed by the government is vital to build public’s trust toward the government. Odie quoted the Directorate General of Information and Public Communication of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Prof. Widodo Muktiyo, a Professor of Communication Science in UNS, that public relations institutions are vital in building messages for the general public. Therefore, the message is not only sent but delivered.
“Amid the pandemic, Covid-19 virus is dangerous, but disinformation is not less dangerous because there are many information or hoaxes regarding Covid-19 pandemic that reach the community and makes them confused,” Odie added.
At the end of the discussion, Odie explained the educational condition in Indonesia due to the Covid-19, which makes digital tools and technology as life support.
“We apply school from home activities using various online learning media. After applying (this method), student’s responses are not as natural as the offline learning process. The effect of online media is students difficult to understand learning map, anticipating a response, and hard to develop personal knowledge and abilities,” Odie concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti