Badak LNG and PWI Bontang Collaborate to Enhance the Competence of Journalists in East Kalimantan

In an effort to enhance the competence and professionalism of members of the press, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of Bontang City, in collaboration with the Pikiran Rakyat Testing Institute, held a Journalist Competency Exam (UKW) on October 20–21, 2026. In collaboration with Badak LNG, the event took place at the Badak LNG Learning Center (BLC) and was attended by 28 journalists from various regions in East Kalimantan.

The exam covered 11 topics designed to assess participants’ competence in performing their journalistic duties. These topics covered a wide range of aspects, from simulated editorial meetings, designing story proposals, practicing doorstop interviews and face-to-face interviews, editing news stories, to testing understanding of the Journalistic Code of Ethics and the Child-Friendly Reporting Guidelines (PPRA).

This UKW covered the junior and intermediate journalist levels. Based on the exam results, 19 participants were deemed competent, while the other nine did not yet meet the established competency standards.

One of the participants, Rezwan, admitted that he had initially doubted his ability to pass the UKW. Nevertheless, the preparatory sessions and feedback from the organizing committee helped him understand the material being tested.

“My impression while I was here was that, at first, I had doubts about passing, because I rarely attended editorial meetings at my workplace. Actually, I didn’t fully understand this material either, but thank God, thanks to the preparatory sessions from the organizing committee, I finally received some helpful feedback,” he said.

The participants’ experiences during the UKW serve as evaluation material for PWI Bontang to strengthen its training of journalists. PWI Bontang Chairperson Kusnadi noted that field reporting experience must be balanced with an understanding of other aspects of the journalistic process. This is crucial so that journalists are not only skilled at gathering information but also understand journalistic principles and adhere to applicable press regulations.

“On behalf of PWI Bontang, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the participants who took part in this two-day process. We observed that some felt stressed, overwhelmed, and confused. This is a challenge for us to hold more frequent discussions and organize small-scale coaching sessions within PWI,” explained Kusnadi.

Meanwhile, Wiwid Marhaendra Wijaya, a representative of the Lembaga Uji Pikiran Rakyat, commended PWI Bontang and Badak LNG for their support during the UKW.

“PT Badak has provided this journalist competency test to PWI Bontang several times now. We appreciate it—perhaps dozens of journalists have become competent through this test here. I’ve also been to this room several times, as well as to the Knowledge House.”

Wiwid also encouraged participants who had not yet met the competency standards to use the evaluation results as a foundation for retaking the exam.

“I’d like to thank those who have already met the competency standards. As for those who haven’t, you can retake the exam. I’m confident that within the next six months, you’ll be competent, since you now know exactly where your weaknesses lie,” she said.

Support was also expressed by Badak LNG’s Manager of CSR & Relations, Putra Peni Luhur Wibowo. According to him, the UKW results can serve as an incentive for all participants to continue developing their skills and enhancing their professionalism as journalists.

“Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t met the competency standards yet. Use this exam as an opportunity to become more professional in your respective fields,” he advised.

He also emphasized that the UKW should provide sustainable benefits for journalists, in line with Badak LNG’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

“We hope this exam will be beneficial for our colleagues. This aligns with our CSR program, which prioritizes sustainability and positive impact. We hope that those who meet the qualifications will be able to continue pursuing careers as journalists,” he said.

Through this UKW, journalists are encouraged to continuously improve their competence in presenting information that is accurate, balanced, and in accordance with applicable regulations. The collaboration between PWI Bontang, the Pikiran Rakyat Testing Institute, and Badak LNG is part of the effort to support the realization of a high-quality press that is accountable to the public.