KRI Makassar (Antara Bali) - Journalists could help in strengthening Indonesia's position in the maritime competition in the world, Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Margiono stated.
"In doing so, the journalist could help by reporting weather condition or the fishing area," Margiono said at the Indonesian Navy's ship (KRI) Makassar 590 in the sail to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Saturday.
Departing from Surabaya on Feb 5 to Lombok, the event titled Sail Journalist involved hundreds of journalists to enliven the National Press Day 2016 on February 9 in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara.
Journalists should prioritize to voice the establishment of a maritime country with keeps monitoring the government's performance, according to Margiono.
"Supporting the maritime shaft does not mean only supporting the government. Echoing the voice of the fishermen, for example, is also important because the government is not necessarily in favor of it," he said.
The press has the strategic role to spread information in a positive way to Indonesians, Indonesia's Armed Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo had also stressed earlier.
Gatot invited all the press members to work together on educating the nation by providing appropriate information to people.
Furthermore, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Farouk Muhammad also highlighted some challenges that would be faced by Indonesia in its efforts to build a maritime shaft country.
"Press could supervise the work and behavior of every public official, as well as voice the interest of Indonesians, for example the fishermen," he stated. (WDY)
