The community information group empowerment workshop carried the theme of empowering community information groups to create a creative and information-savvy society in East Kalimantan.
Heaptalk, Jakarta — The Provincial Government of East Kalimantan through the Department of Communication and Informatics (Diskominfo) organized a workshop on community information group, translated literally from kelompok informasi masyarakat (KIM), at the Aston Inn Hotel in Batu, East Java (05/08).
This workshop carried the theme of empowering community information groups to create a creative and information-savvy society in East Kalimantan. The resource persons in this activity were the Coordinator for Information Dissemination of KIM Nukus, Sukun Village, Malang City, Eko Zainuddin and representatives from the East Java Communication and Informatics Department (Diskominfo).
This activity was opened by the Head of the East Kalimantan Communication and Informatics Department Muhammad Faisal and was attended by all regency/city Communication and Informatics, Statistics and Encryption Department in East Kalimantan, including East Kutai.
Faisal said that the progress of the digital transformation era has caused a shift in public opinion. In the past, public opinion emerged from the agenda-setting of the mass media but now it is the opposite, public opinion can be formed from the people who influence mass media coverage.
“Now issues can be created by anyone and can become public opinion. Issues can be raised by individuals or community groups. This is why we must strengthen KIM’s role,” said Faisal.
With the activeness of community information groups, Faisal hopes that interactive communication between the public and the government can be created. He added, “The delivery of information and work programs from the government does not only go one way but goes both ways with an active response from the community.”
Meanwhile, one of the workshop participants, namely the Head of Public Communication Information (IKP) and Public Relations of the East Kutai Department of Communication and Informatics, Statistics and Encryption Lisa Komentin said that community information groups are formed by the community, from the community, and for the community independently domiciled in their respective territories. These community groups have activities in the field of community empowerment which are added to the function of information management and dissemination.
“KIM is one of the institutions that facilitates access to information within the local community and KIM focuses on developing regional potential through its media,” concluded Lisa.