UNAIR NEWS – Rapid digital development now influences people’s need for internet access. The internet is a mean that is able to spread opinions and influence among users.
In this era, influencer is a mediator who is considered capable of forming public opinion. Indicators of being influencers are not only those who have lots of followers on social media, but everyone who has the ability to influence, spread and form an opinion.
The topic was discussed in an discussion by Communication Science Students Association (Himakom) of Universitas Airlangga Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) through an event titled Communication Student Summit (CS2).
Imastari Wulansuci of the committee said that CS2 is Himakom UNAIR’s annual agenda. This year is the seventh year of CS2. Over time, CS2 has become a mean for meeting and discussion of Communication Sciences students throughout Indonesia.
The event was held on Saturday, September 8 in Aula Soetandyo, FISIP UNAIR, attended by various groups, from the general public, high school students, to several universities’ representatives in East Java such as Universitas Brawijaya (UB), State Islamic University Sunan Ampel (UINSA), Surabaya State University (UNESA), Ten November Institute of Technology (ITS), 17 August 1945 University Surabaya (UNTAG), Petra Christian University, and UNAIR.
There were four speakers who discussed the fields according to their respective expertise. There was Vincent Ricardo, Youtuber and Content Creator and Yovantra from independent media Remotivi. Both discussed mainstream influencers who often publish content related to communication and politics. In addition, they also discussed the challenges and creative processes behind the content they produce.
The next speaker was Eben Haezer, an independent journalist. On that occasion he discussed the mass media and how to become a journalist who remained independent among the mainstream mass media.
“Being an independent journalist is a uniqueness and it is very important. Because a journalist has great potential to shape public opinion, “explained Eben.
The last speaker was Nisa Kurnia, lecturer at UNAIR Communication Department. On that occasion she taked about media literacy in Indonesia and the response of the public to respond to various opinions in cyberspace.
The event committee hoped that in the future CS2 events will be better and more lively. The spirit of CS2 as a place to bring together Communication Science students throughout Indonesia to discuss and exchange ideas should be continued and well established. (*)
Author: Wiwik Yuni Eryanti Ningrum
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
