SURABAYA — Marking a major milestone in elevating media professionalism, the Central Executive Board of Sekber Wartawan Indonesia (DPP SWI) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr. Soetomo University (Unitomo) Surabaya. This strategic alliance lays the groundwork for launching national-level Journalist Competency Tests (Uji Kompetensi Wartawan / UKW) scheduled to take place in two major Indonesian cities.
The partnership underscores SWI’s commitment to ensuring field journalists meet rigorous national ethical and technical standards. By teaming up with Unitomo—a recognized official UKW administering institution certified by the Press Council (Dewan Pers)—SWI aims to expand certified journalism training beyond traditional administrative hubs into regional territories across eastern and western Indonesia.
Leadership from both organizations expressed high optimism during the MoU signing, noting that certified journalism directly impacts the quality of public discourse and counters the rise of disinformation.
Under the newly established framework, the national UKW program will be conducted in two strategic hubs: Tangerang (representing western regional cohorts via SWI’s academic partnership network) and Surabaya (serving as the anchor for eastern Indonesian media professionals).
The dual-city deployment allows working journalists from various provincial chapters to undergo formal assessment without facing prohibitive logistical barriers. The assessment curriculum covers core investigative ethics, digital newsgathering, media law, and balanced reporting standards mandated by national press guidelines.
In conjunction with the MoU signing in Surabaya, DPP SWI leadership carried out organizational consolidation with its East Java Regional Board (DPW SWI Jatim). The internal session focused on restructuring regional personnel and preparing physical infrastructure to host the eastern region UKW participants seamlessly.
“This collaboration with Unitomo is a tangible step toward empowering our members nationwide. Competency certification is no longer optional; it is a necessity for maintaining journalistic credibility in today’s fast-moving digital media environment,” stated SWI leadership during the coordination meeting.
In Indonesia, the Journalist Competency Test (UKW) serves as the primary benchmark for professional journalistic integrity as regulated by the Press Council (Dewan Pers). Passing the multi-tier examination—ranging from Young Journalist (Muda), Middle Journalist (Madya), to Principal Journalist (Utama)—validates a reporter’s ability to uphold Law No. 40/1999 on the Press. Organizations like SWI facilitate these assessments to ensure independent and regional journalists gain equal access to formal career credentials.
Dr. Soetomo University (Unitomo) in Surabaya has long stood as one of Eastern Indonesia’s premier academic centers for communication and press studies. Its Faculty of Communication Sciences (FIKOM Unitomo) operates an accredited UKW testing body that regularly collaborates with media associations, government institutions, and press unions. By bridging academic rigor with practical newsroom requirements, Unitomo plays a central role in strengthening press freedom and responsible journalism across the archipelago.
 to hold national Journalist Competency Tests (UKW) across two major Indonesian cities.){kind=link}