SIGNIS Indonesia Sumatra Region: Choose Print, Online or Convergence Media?

Do you want to publish online, in print, or a convergence between the two?

This question became a hot topic of conversation among SIGNIS Indonesia Sumatra Region members, who met in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia from 7-9 November 2023. They are 34 media activists from the commission for social communications of six dioceses: Archdiocese of Palembang, Diocese of Tanjungkarang, Diocese of Pangkal Pinang, Archdiocese of Medan, Diocese of Sibolga, and Diocese of Padang. There is also Radio Maria Indonesia which is domiciled in Medan.

The meeting with the theme of print and online media management was resourced by Bernadetta Widiandajani (Vice President SIGNIS Indonesia), Hasiholan Siagian (Majalah HIDUP), and Father Frans de Sales SCJ (Head of Social Communication Commission of Palembang Archdiocese). On the first day, Widi presented the results of a survey on the condition of print and online media in the Dioceses of the Sumatra Region. Broadly speaking, this includes people’s interest in the presence of print and online media and independence in media funding.

Three years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the presence of vacuum printed magazines. This is due to the vacuum of church activities. A website is the solution chosen so that news can continue to be published online. However, in this endemic era, each commission plans to revive their print media.

“We have to see whether the media that will be printed is still needed by the people or is it just an assumption?” Widi asked.

Based on survey results in each diocese, people still need print media. This is because some areas in the dioceses still do not have signal to access online media and the older generation prefers printing media to digital media.

On the second day, the participants were invited to refresh what is needed if they want to republish printing media. Hasiholan provided material on managing printing media using the basic principles of management, planning, organizing, actuating, and controlling.

From this principle, he emphasized the planning part. First, participants are asked to determine the publication time, which can be weekly or monthly. Second, they were asked to create a media editorial team, consisting of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, designer, journalists and contributors. Third, business and marketing which consists of budgeting, budget realization, managing advertising and funding sources, as well as promotions and sales.

Not only media management, content in the media is also in the spotlight of Signis Indonesia Sumatra Region. Father Frans, who has decades of experiencing in the field of journalism, provides tips how to write interestingly.

He explained an inverted pyramid technique for presenting news. “This technique presents important information first, followed by additional information,” he explained.

This, said Father Frans, is in accordance with the nature of the news which must be conveyed immediately. He also invited the participants to create an interesting lead or opening paragraph.

Signis is the only professional Catholic media association recognized by the Holy See. Regarding journalism, both printing and digital, said Mrs. Widi, it is one of the world’s SIGNIS desks.

“Then, the SIGNIS Indonesia management board thought about what if we learned together about digital. Management can. We think, (the meeting) is inter-regional, especially involving young people. “That’s why (members of SIGNIS) Sumatra Region want to study printing media management, but also online, we really support it,” she explained.

**Kristiana Rinawati (Young Journalist of Signis Indonesia Sumatra Region)