Khairul Saleh, The Jakarta Post, Palembang,
Reporters and public alike can sharpen their journalistic skills at the Indonesian School of Journalism (SJI) in Palembang, South Sumatra, for free. | Sun, 03/21/2010 4:31 PM
The free school, initiated by UNESCO, the National Education Ministry, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and Indonesian Foundation for School of Journalism, was inaugurated early February by Governor Alex Noerdin.
The first 30 students also honored with a general lecture from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the inauguration day that coincided with National Press Day.
The school, temporarily located in the province's Education and Training Center, provides the students with stationery, textbooks, uniform, luncheon and even transportation expenses.
The purpose of the establishment of the school is to develop a sustainable, independent journalistic educational institution, said Iman Hardiman, the director of the school.
"The school is open for public relations officials and civil servants who want to widen their knowledge on journalism or sharpen their journalistic skill," he said.
Encub Subekti, deputy executive director of Indonesian School of Journalism, said the first free journalism school was established in Palembang because the province was the most ready to materialize the plan.
Similar schools would be built in Pekanbaru, capital of Riau, Semarang of Central Java, Jakarta, Samarinda of East Kalimantan and Makassar of South Sulawesi, he said.
There are three classes in the school. The basics for cub reporters, intermediate for editors or senior journalists and advanced class for managing and chief editors.
The curriculum used is UNESCO's model for journalism education that includes the philosophy of journalistic profession, code of ethics, press law, the basics of press management, news development, and news writing technique, photojournalism and many others.
Each student has to attend at least 30 of 40 sessions in each level. The class takes between four and five weeks. The lecturers are senior journalists, communication experts and practitioners mostly based in Jakarta.
"We have hired local lecturers as substitutes," Iman said.
