AJMHT 2026: Pramono Calls on the Press to Be a Critical Government Partner

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung wants the press to do more than report what happens in the capital. He said journalists should serve as critical partners in monitoring the government and its development agenda.

Speaking at the presentation of the 2026 Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin Journalism Awards at Jakarta City Hall on Monday, Pramono praised the 754 entries submitted this year. He said the number reflected the media's strong interest in recording Jakarta's changing dynamics from different perspectives.

Pramono called for reporting that presents facts as they are, without exaggeration or understatement. “In my view, it should be as it is. There is no need to exaggerate or reduce the facts. I tend to avoid overexposure because I do not want the reality to appear different from what it is,” he said.

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In my view, it should be as it is. There is no need to exaggerate or reduce the facts. I tend to avoid overexposure because I do not want the reality to appear different from what it is.

He said journalism grounded in facts, data, professional ethics and public responsibility could also help the government assess Jakarta's problems more objectively. Such reporting, he added, can give officials material for evaluating policies and improving public services.

The governor said the media's role will become increasingly important as Jakarta approaches its 500th anniversary. The Jakarta administration aims to place the capital among the world's 20 leading global cities by 2045, a target that will require cooperation with journalists to explain development plans, achievements and challenges.

He identified education and health access, public transport and transit-oriented development, urban planning and waste-management reform as areas requiring continued scrutiny. Pramono also welcomed a special “Approaching Jakarta's Five Centuries” category in this year's awards, saying journalism can preserve the city's collective memory and help future generations understand its development.

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The media's role is important so that people understand the direction of policy, progress and its real benefits.