UII Exhibits Archives of Jogjakarta Press Museum

SLEMAN—The Department of Communication Science of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) hosted the “Moeseoem Pers Jogjakarta Archives Exhibition” at the Moh. Hatta Building of UII’s Main Campus, from 26 June to 16 July 2024.

This exhibition is part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of the department

“There are three significant moments framed within this event. Earlier, we launched the book of Mas Ading [Prof. Masduki’s nickname] after his professorship inauguration speech, followed by a press exhibition. Coincidentally, this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Department of Communication Science,” said UII Rector Fathul Wahid, in his opening remarks.

Following this, Prof. Dr.rer.soc. Masduki, S.Ag., M.Si. took the stage to discuss his book titled “State, Media, and Journalism in Post-New Order Indonesia.”

“This book is an actual surprise, as I didn’t write anything new. Instead, it’s a collection of my Facebook posts, light articles, newspaper pieces, and personal notes from the past 10 years,” explained Prof. Masduki, a professor of media and journalism at Faculty of Psychology and Socio-Cultural Sciences.

He elaborated that discussions of the state served as a starting point, followed by topics on media, journalism, and reflections on Indonesia’s recent past.

UII Rector Fathul Wahid likened the book’s message to the story of David versus Goliath, symbolizing how a modestbook addresses larger forces in the hierarchy above.

In collaboration with artist Anang Saptoto, Prof. Masduki highlighted the theme of digital disruption, with an emphasis on the challenges facing the press. “But wherever it may be in the world, print media carries a heritage of quality journalism, and Kedaulatan Rakyat [Yogyakarta’s oldest newspaper] is an example of media with key historical segments worth revisiting,” he noted.

The exhibition, which opened in the afternoon, attracted significant enthusiasm, with visitors filling every corner of the venue. Attendees included not only the academic community but also artists, activists, journalists, lecturers, and students. The exhibition features the history of Kedaulatan Rakyat newspaper, aimed at amplifying the long-muted voice of the press.