LKBN ANTARA launches journalist safety training to mitigate field risks

LKBN ANTARA has launched basic field safety training for journalists to improve preparedness and risk mitigation during reporting in hazardous areas. The initiative, supported by the agency’s Social and Environmental Responsibility program, aims to protect media professionals from becoming victims during coverage of natural disasters, riots, or conflicts.

Rachmat Hidayat, Director of HR and Information Technology at ANTARA, emphasized the urgency of these measures following the disappearance of photojournalist Muhammad Bagus Khoirunnas and four others, along with three crew members, during the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau on September 7, 2026. Hidayat stated that “no news is worth a life,” highlighting the high risks faced by journalists on the front lines.

The training comes amid global concerns regarding journalist safety. Data from the Alliance of Independent Journalists noted that 89 journalists faced physical or digital violence, terror, or intimidation in 2025. Additionally, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 129 journalists died throughout 2025, with one-third of those fatalities occurring during the Israel-Palestine conflict.