The market projections cited by MMA point to sustained growth, with advertising revenue expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 8% through 2030.
In the pursuit of uncertain royalty payments, media organisations must not end up losing traffic, advertising revenue and access to readers, while local media are pushed further to the margins.
As part of its public responsibility and efforts to consolidate the voices of publishers outside the major media centres, the Local Media Community (LMC) a collaborative network representing hundreds of local, small and medium-sized media outlets a
Local Media Summit (LMS) 2026, organised by Suara.com in partnership with International Media Support (IMS) from Denmark, called on local media to move beyond traffic-driven strategies and focus on building audience trust, strengthening communities, embracing technology, and developing sustainable business models.
Held on 22–23 October 2026 at Manhattan Hotel Jakarta, the two-day summit carried the theme “Beyond Reach: From Discovery to Community Trust and Sustainability.” It brought together local media organisations, journalists, news creators, communities, government representatives, digital platforms, and industry players to discuss the evolving media landscape and the future of local journalism.
Suwarjono, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Suara.com, said LMS has been an ongoing initiative since 2022, extending beyond conferences to include training, workshops, coaching, and newsroom mentoring.
“Our goal is to encourage local media to keep growing. Through workshops, training, and coaching, we also work directly with newsrooms to strengthen their capabilities,” he said during the opening ceremony on 22 October.
Suara.com has established a nationwide network spanning Aceh to Papua, bringing together 837 local media organisations and news creators. The network is further supported by regional initiatives, including Central Java, East Java, West Java, Banten, and Sumatra Media Summits.
Other programmes include Startup for Media, Woman Media Summit, Woman Media Startup, and the Media Innovation Grant, which provides early-stage media startups with funding opportunities and capacity-building support.
A central discussion at LMS 2026 was how media organisations can better understand changing audience behaviour. Reaching more people is no longer enough. Media companies must identify the right audiences, maintain journalistic standards, and turn meaningful audience relationships into sustainable communities and business opportunities.
Christian Groseth, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy, highlighted the growing importance of independent journalism amid rapid technological change and the widespread circulation of information that does not necessarily undergo professional journalistic verification.
“In this environment, independent and professional journalism becomes even more important,” he said.
Syahganda Nainggolan, Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom), also stressed that emerging media platforms must uphold journalistic ethics, including balanced reporting and accountability, despite growing pressure to maximise engagement.
Beyond Advertising: Rethinking Media Revenue
The summit explored alternative revenue models through the conference session “Beyond Media Advertising: Unlocking Alternative Revenue Models.”
Ilona Juwita, CEO and Co-Founder of Props; Dahlan Dahi, Chair of the Press Council's Digital and Sustainability Commission; and Yos Kusuma, Google News Partner Manager for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, discussed how media companies can capture greater economic value from their audiences.
The speakers highlighted a key challenge facing Indonesia's media industry: despite a large internet population, many media organisations continue to struggle financially. Understanding audience needs, developing relevant products, and demonstrating the value of specific audience segments are increasingly important to attracting advertisers and generating new revenue.
The discussion continued through “Reinventing Media as Creative Industry,” featuring Robby Firliandoko, Director of Media and Community at Indonesia Creative Cities Network (ICCN), and Ario Fajar, VP Marketing of Toffin Indonesia. They explored intellectual property development and partnerships with local communities as opportunities to create sustainable creative businesses.
Other sessions examined media partnerships, brand ecosystems, and community-driven business models, including “Beyond Brand: Strengthening Media Ecosystems and Sustainability Strategies,” featuring Nurdiana Darus, Director of Communication, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk, and Dimasz Joey, CMO of Mad Haus Group.
Technology, Ethics, and the Future of Local Media
On the second day, Haryo Limanseto, Special Advisor for Regional Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, representing Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto, expressed support for the summit as a platform for strengthening an independent and sustainable local media ecosystem.
“With 235 million internet users in 2026, local media have significant opportunities to promote MSME products, tourism, and regional potential. Digital marketing, creative content production, and community activities can become new sources of revenue,” he said.
The programme also addressed press freedom, journalist safety, and digital security. Yekti Hesti Murti of UNESCO discussed freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and journalist safety under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Nenden Sekar Arum, Executive Director of SAFEnet, highlighted the importance of protecting digital assets and preventing cyberattacks, particularly for young content creators.
Meanwhile, sessions on social media management, SEO and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), community engagement, and regional events explored practical strategies for media organisations adapting to changing technologies and audience behaviour.
The summit also featured Pitch Youth Media and discussions on the future of youth-led media, highlighting the importance of strong editorial identities, journalistic standards, innovation, and collaboration.
The closing conference, “Beyond Media Business: Innovative Local Wisdom Revenue Models,” brought together Muhammad Abduh of Pantura Post, Wiwi of Pontianak Info Media, Annisa Rahmatillah of Sukabumi Update, and Abdul Qohar of BlokBojonegoro. They shared experiences in expanding media businesses beyond websites through multiple platforms, community activities, and events.
About Local Media Summit 2026
Local Media Summit 2026 was held on 22–23 October 2026 at Manhattan Hotel Jakarta, bringing together stakeholders from across Indonesia's local media ecosystem to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and business sustainability.
The summit was supported by 20 sponsors representing various industries: PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero), Unilever Indonesia, PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, PT Astra International Tbk, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan, PT Darya-Varia Laboratoria Tbk, Gojek with its “Bersama Pasti Ada Jalan” campaign, VinFast Indonesia, Telkom Indonesia, PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk, Tring! by Pegadaian, PT Adaro Andalan Indonesia Tbk, PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (Persero), PT United Tractors Tbk, PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk, PT Amartha Mikro Fintek, and Kara.
The event also received support from 14 partners: PT Toffin Indonesia, Cimory, Frisian Flag Indonesia, Ji Water, Jus Antara, Nusa Saji by Bang Dava, Glam Shine Cosmetics, Nutrisari, Grateful Brownies, Setoeang Coffee, Burger Bangor, Learning With Us, Royal Kopitiam, and Kemuning Java.
Through cross-sector collaboration, LMS 2026 aims to strengthen local media as trusted information providers, community builders, and sustainable contributors to Indonesia's regional economies.
