Indonesian officials urge proactive two-way government communication

Indonesian government officials are calling for a shift in the role of public relations (PR) departments within ministries, agencies, and regional governments. During a coordination forum for the Coordinating Body for Public Relations (Bakohumas) in Jakarta, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto emphasized that government PR must move from a one-way communication model to a two-way process. He stated that PR officers should not only deliver policies but also actively listen to and analyze public conversations to provide meaningful input for government decision-making.

Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid and Head of the Government Communication Agency Muhamad Qodari also addressed the need for proactive communication. Qodari noted that in the era of massive social media use, the government cannot afford to wait for information to develop before responding. Instead, officials must maintain routine communication schedules to fill public information spaces with details regarding government programs, achievements, and the real-world impacts of policies. This approach aims to counter negative content and misinformation by consistently highlighting positive and inspiring developments from across the country.