To have a dialogue and find solutions to public communication problems, the student team of the Masters (S2) in UGM Communication Science held a “Communication Science Postgraduate Student Symposium”. Carrying the theme “Communication Response in a Pandemic Circuit: Challenges of Public Communication in Disrupting Digital Transformation,” this forum facilitates postgraduate students and alumni to exchange ideas in solving various public communication problems.
The symposium will be held online on 9-10 September 2021, presenting Prof. Hermin Indah Wahyuni as Keynote Speaker, and three panelists, Dr. G. Arum Yudarwati from Atma Jaya University who will talk about “Digital Public Communication Strategies in the Context of the (Post) Covid 19 Pandemic,” Dr. Eriyanto who will discuss the “Direction of the Development of Communication Studies and Contributions in Responding to the Crisis of Public Communication”, and Janoe Arijanto who will explain “Changes in the Media Landscape and Challenges of Public Communication: Professional Perspectives”.
This event was supported by the journal manager from the Jurnal Komunikasi Indonesia by the Department of Communication, Universitas Indonesia, Jurnal Komunikasi by the Department of Communication Universitas Islam Indonesia, and Jurnal Media dan Komunikasi Indonesia by the Department of Communication Studies UGM. It is estimated that 150 participants are involved in this event.
Rahayu, Head of the Master of Communication Studies Program, UGM FISIPOL, stated that the purpose of this symposium is to provide a forum for postgraduate students and alumni to be creative and find solutions for public communication problems. According to her, digital transformation and the current Covid-19 pandemic have changed the communication environment dramatically.
Changes in digital technology are not only related to the emergence of various types of digital media platforms but also the interactivity and relationships of increasingly broad and varied patterns of social relations. Changes also show in the expansion and intensification of digital media use in various sectors as the impact of the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).
“This change in the communication environment brings a big challenge to the management of public communication by both public and private organizations,” she said at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences on Friday (3/9).
According to her, public communication is an element in determining the quality of social, political and economic life. In a changing communication environment, communication can no longer be managed with conventional methods, and innovative ways are needed with new approaches to achieve the expected goals.
The concept of public communication differ than propaganda and public speaking or the technique of delivering public persuasive messages. Public communication demands a comprehensive understanding of the public interest, public information, digital media, and the interrelationships between organizations and the public.
“Public communication also faces problems related to the circulation of misinformation as trusted information and information from official sources,” she explained.
For this reason, said Rahayu, this symposium will discuss a number of important questions, including the contribution of communication science in managing public communications, especially facing digital disruption and the current pandemic situation. How do communication sciences and scientists respond to social, cultural and technological changes or shifts? How do we anticipate the challenges and risks in public communication that arise from digital transformation, the pandemic, and post-pandemic?
“After the symposium, we hope that a number of solutions that are relevant to public communication problems will emerge,” said Rahayu.
