Empowering Local Media, 1st "AI for Journalists" Workshop Held in Bandung

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesian journalism is entering a phase of major transformation. No longer solely reliant on pen and paper, journalistic practice is now required to collaborate strategically with artificial intelligence (AI).

To address this challenge, Suara.com and the Local Media Community, supported by the Google News Initiative, held an intensive workshop titled "Google AI Tools for Journalists" in Bandung.

The two-day training, held on December 23–24, 2025, at the Ayo Media Network office in Bandung, West Java, marked a crucial milestone in strengthening the capacity of local media outlets.

The workshop was designed not only as technical training, but also as a strategic step to help journalists and media managers work more efficiently, in-depth, and relevantly, amidst the flood of digital information.

A total of 28 curated participants, consisting of media managers, professional journalists, and community content creators, participated in this intensive activity.

They explored the use of AI tools in various areas of journalistic work, from rapid research and fact-checking to large-scale data processing, which previously required lengthy manual processing.

Suara.com's Editor-in-Chief, Suwarjono, emphasized that changes in the media industry landscape are inevitable. He argued that local media can no longer rely on conventional approaches to survive and thrive, amidst the dominance of global platforms and increasingly complex content distribution algorithms.

In his remarks on Tuesday, December 23, Suwarjono emphasized the importance of adapting to technology.

"When faced with machines (algorithms and machine learning on platforms), the media must also be able to utilize them," he said. This statement reflects the fact that AI is not a threat, but rather a strategic partner in improving the quality of journalism.

He also highlighted significant changes in information consumption behavior, especially among Generation Z. Younger audiences now access information more through visual platforms like TikTok and Instagram than through news websites.

This situation demands that journalists should produce fast, accurate, and relevant content, supported by AI technology, to remain competitive in the digital space.

In line with this view, the CEO of Ayobandung.id (Ayo Media Network), Rudy Sukarno, viewed this training as a strategic investment for the future of the media industry.

He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and strengthening networks among journalists as the main foundation for local media resilience in the era of disruption.

For the technical sessions, the workshop featured two certified mentors: Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari from Suara.com and Adi Ginanjar Maulana from Ayobandung.id.

Both trainers discussed the practical use of Google AI tools, from Google Advanced Search and Gemini, to sophisticated research tools like Google Pinpoint and NotebookLM, designed for journalistic needs.

Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari exemplified how a simple feature can become a powerful investigative tool. "Google Maps isn't just a way to find directions. This feature can be used to map event data and even provide location visualizations that strengthen geographically-based investigative reporting," said Ria.

Meanwhile, Adi Ginanjar Maulana demonstrated the role of Google Pinpoint as a game-changer in investigative journalism.

This tool allows thousands of statistical data --including complex data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS)-- to be analyzed in seconds.

Furthermore, long-form audio recordings of interviews can also be automatically transcribed, which in the end could significantly improve journalists' work efficiency.