National regulators, scholars, and lawmakers call for stronger media literacy and updated broadcasting laws

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, through the Center for Communication Studies and Training (COMTC) of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, held the 2025 Television Broadcast Program Quality Index (IKPSTV) Dissemination on Friday (14/11/2025). The forum, themed “Strengthening the Quality of Infotainment: Informative, Educational, and Entertaining Content,” took place in a hybrid format at the FISHUM Theater Hall and via Zoom.

In his opening remarks, Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan emphasized that research is a crucial instrument for understanding real-world media dynamics. “Research enables us to clearly see what is happening, particularly in broadcast quality across this country. These findings guide us in building credible knowledge and references,” he said. He noted that UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s involvement reflects the university’s commitment to addressing public issues and national concerns.

Prof. Noorhaidi also revisited the two-decade trajectory of Indonesian infotainment—once a prime-time staple for family entertainment but often criticized for excessive intrusion into celebrities’ private lives.

Amin Sabana, the Person-in-Charge of IKPSTV research from the Central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), stressed the importance of academic forums in improving broadcast standards. “This year’s infotainment programs still fail to meet quality benchmarks. KPI cannot work alone. We need universities to offer concrete recommendations for the broadcasting sector,” he stated.

COMTC Chair Dr. Bono Setyo underscored the need for stronger public media literacy. “Communities must develop the ability to evaluate content. Media literacy starts with the individual, then extends to families and the broader environment,” he said. He added that broadcasters should provide programming that entertains while remaining educational.

In the same forum, KPI Chair Ubaidillah called for deeper cross-sector collaboration. “We must work together to improve infotainment quality, and broadcasters need to actively implement higher standards,” he said, noting the value of academic insights in expanding the regulatory perspective.

Commission I Member of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI), Sukamta, offered a broader look at the evolving media landscape. He noted that rapid technological change over the past three decades has reshaped the entire media ecosystem.
“We used to rely on conventional media. Now we face a flood of video content across platforms we never imagined,” he said. Yet the current regulatory framework, he warned, lags far behind these developments. “Existing laws do not fully cover today’s media realities. Meanwhile, media institutions are responsible for protecting citizens’ physical and non-physical safety.”

While platforms evolve, he stressed that the purpose of broadcasting must remain constant—supporting the nation’s intellectual development. The explosive growth of digital content brings a higher risk of low-quality programming, further compounded by the regulatory gap between tightly governed conventional media and more loosely regulated digital media.
“The Broadcasting Law revision must include digital and new media, and clearly define quality standards,” he asserted.

Responding to these insights, Rector Prof. Noorhaidi reaffirmed the university’s full support for collaborative research with KPI. He expressed hope that this year’s study will serve as a foundation for future research aimed at strengthening an ethical, high-quality, and technologically adaptive broadcasting ecosystem.

The 2025 IKPSTV dissemination underscores UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s commitment to improving national television content—particularly infotainment—so it remains relevant, informative, educational, and responsive to public needs in an increasingly digital era.