Tanjungpinang– The Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) of the Riau Islands (Kepri) marked its 5th anniversary by hosting an appreciation night at Nite & Day Hotel Laguna, Tanjungpinang, on Saturday (26/9/2026) evening.
This milestone was not merely a celebration, but also a space for press companies to reflect as they navigate rapid changes in the media industry driven by advances in technology, social media, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Chairman of AMSI Kepri, Jailani, stated that despite being a relatively young organization, AMSI continuously strives to foster professional cyber media outlets that carry out journalistic duties in accordance with regulations. “The reality today is that many media outlets are exploited for specific interests. A media outlet’s responsibility is not to itself, but to the public,” said Jailani.
According to him, the media industry currently faces dynamic conditions. Nevertheless, fluctuating business landscapes must not compromise the media’s commitment to delivering balanced news coverage.
Currently, 12 media outlets are members of AMSI Kepri: Angkaberita.id, Batampos.co.id, Ulasan.co, TribunBatam.id, Batamnews.co.id, Presmedia.id, Kepripedia.com, HarianKepri.com, Beritaibukota.com, Inikepri.com, Gurindam.id, and Mejaredaksi.co.id.
“We believe that a media’s journey never happens in isolation. Government bodies, law enforcement agencies, the business sector, universities, community leaders, civil society organizations, and various other community elements have built synergy with members of the press,” he said.
Vice General Chairperson of AMSI Indonesia, Citra Dyah Prastuti, stated that the media industry is facing increasingly complex challenges. One of these is the shift in public behavior regarding how information is consumed. While the media used to be a primary source of news, people are now increasingly accessing information through social media and content creators.
“Therefore, media outlets must understand who their audience is by delivering content that is truly useful to the public,” she said.
According to Citra, changing audience behavior is not the only challenge. The rapid rise of AI technology has also brought significant shifts to the media industry. AI can process and summarize information in a short amount of time. This reality forces media outlets to strengthen advantages that cannot be easily replaced by technology.
“While AI can summarize vast amounts of information, the key advantage of credible media lies in going out into the field to verify facts firsthand,” she explained.
She added that journalistic work conducted through verification, fact-checking, and direct reporting remains vital to preserving media credibility amidst the overwhelming tide of digital information.
In his remarks, the Governor of the Riau Islands, H. Ansar Ahmad, emphasized the vital role media plays in delivering information to the public.
He noted that media serves crucial functions in distributing information, promoting the region, maintaining public order, and helping citizens access accurate information while avoiding hoaxes. “The media and the government are like two sides of the same coin that cannot be separated. We hope the media can continue to serve as an educational and informational platform for the community,” Ansar said.
He expressed hope that the strong relationship and synergy between the government and the press will endure, enabling journalists to fulfill their educational and informational roles effectively.
During the appreciation night, the Vice General Chairperson of AMSI Indonesia alongside the Chairman of AMSI Kepri presented awards to several prominent figures, institutions, and organizations. The awards were given as a token of appreciation for their dedication, support, and contributions toward fostering a healthy, professional, and high-integrity cyber media ecosystem in the Riau Islands.
Individual award recipients:
1. H. Ansar Ahmad, S.E., M.M. – Governor of the Riau Islands
2. Rudy Chua, S.E., M.H. – Member of the Riau Islands Provincial Regional House of Representatives (DPRD)
3. Misni, S.K.M., M.Si. – Regional Secretary of the Riau Islands Province
4. Dr. H. Amsakar Achmad, S.Sos., M.Si. – Head of BP Batam
5. H. Lis Darmansyah, S.H. – Mayor of Tanjungpinang
6. Nikolas Panama, S.H., M.Pd., M.H. – Figure in Journalism Education
7. Prof. Dr. Drs. H. Abdul Malik, M.Pd. – Professor at Raja Ali Haji Maritime University
8. Drs. Zamzami A Karim, M.A. – Press Expert
9. Roy Huffington Harahap, S.H., M.H – Communicative Prosecutor
Institutional and organizational award recipients:
1. Kepri Regional Police (Polda Kepri)
2. Kepri High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Kepri)
3. Language Center of Kepri Province
4. Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Kepri
5. Malay Customary Institution (LAM) of Kepri Province
6. PT PLN Batam
7. Communication and Information Office (Diskominfo) of Bintan
8. Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Tanjungpinang
9. Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (UMRAH)
10. STAIN Sultan Abdurrahman
11. Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) of Riau Islands Province
AMSI Kepri remains committed to continuously building a healthy and professional cyber media ecosystem in the region. []