An Enlightening Silaturahmi

FOTO-FOTO: KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Ashadi Siregar

Stories about Idul Fitri and the long holiday, especially the massive homebound and return trips, become a recurring phenomenon every year resulting in media coverage following suit. It is almost no different from year to year, except for the last two years when people were confined by the pandemic.

Homebound travel is actually not just a trip, but also full of values of silaturahmi (gathering to maintain good relations). Thus, the government's efforts to facilitate the flow of a smooth and safe homebound travel can be seen as support for the public. After two years of constraints, this year's Idul Fitri is like an overflow of euphoria.

For Kompas journalists, the Idul Fitri moment must capture actualevents that have conventional news value. In addition, it displays stories about the sincerity of those who serve travelers. It becomes a special agenda on how to respond to the reality of the diversity of citizens, then pay attention to inclusivity between different groups in the atmosphere of the fasting month and Idul Fitri 1444 H. From here, human and cultural values are raised.

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The public can follow Kompas newspaper (including e-paper) and the Kompas.id website. In addition to conventional coverage, Kompas also provides analyses, data journalism and infographics. For those who are familiar with newspapers, the news showing priority takes the heading on the front page, with a special section on the inside pages. Of course, this is not available on Kompas.id because the news on the website is in a list.“Lebaran 2023" is listed in the “hot topic” category.

Audiences who want fast and up-to-date news can take advantage of Kompas.id. Every digital media is competing with the "scoop" as the first broadcast. The news is updated in hours, even minutes, appearing by top order, machine-arranged.

Audiences who want fast and up-to-date news can take advantage of Kompas.id.

There is an added value from the Kompas digital media, namely photography and video series by Kompas journalists, which deserve praise. The news on Idul Fitri, 21 and 22 April, and the following day when the printed newspaper and e-paper were not published, Kompas journalists continued to serve readers.

Coverage of ”Lebaran 2023” began on 17 April. However, previously Kompas had presented news related to Ramadan, such as on Saturday (15/4/2023): "Takjil that Inspires Brotherhood" regarding the breaking of the fast for those passing by and stopping by.Takjil was provided by non-Muslims at the Dhanagun Temple (Hok Tek Bio), Bogor; the Dharma Bakti Temple, West Jakarta; and in Santa Theresia Catholic Church, Semarang.

Journalism of meaning

Coverage of “Lebaran 2023” is divided into three reporting types: conventional news, feature news and works of journalism of meaning. The first is pragmatic for the direct benefit of the public. Kompas reports public activities on the homebound trips. One can feel the government's optimal efforts for residents who are celebrating the holidays, including through the socialization of the policy of adding facilities for the travelers.

Without "public relations-esque" reporting about public services for Idul Fitri with an overflowing number of travelers, Kompas needs to be appreciated. With the “Lebaran 2023” coverage, it is hoped that Kompas will function as a reference like a travel guide. However, in an editorialombudsman discussion on Friday (28/4), a retrospective from Kompas journalists revealed that the coverage was dominated by homebound travels on Java island, yet it lacked reporting on the southern route of Java.

Secondly, ”Lebaran 2023” also presented a feature to remember that Idul Fitri has become a tradition to foster memory and respect for artifacts and cultural behavior related to pluralistic cultures, like the stories of historic mosques that reflect a blend of Arabic, Chinese and Indonesian culture or local customs during the fasting month and Idul Fitri.

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The third reporting type, the application of journalism of meaning, is to select facts from the atmosphere of fasting and Idul Fitri, which are meaningful for the ideal life of the nation's citizens. Kompas highlights events that reflect solidarity, tolerance and inclusiveness in interactions between groups in a pluralistic society.

Readers can see the orientation ofKompas’ journalism of meaning. We do not compete in the speed of online media because Kompas' added value is enlightening reporting, such as friendly silaturahmi (gathering) between (terror attack) survivors, former bombers and anti-terror police or inviting the public to empathize with those who cannot celebrate Idul Fitri with their families.

It should be appreciated that Kompas newspaper responded to the different Idul Fitri dates between the Muhammadiyah mass organization (Friday 21/4/2023) and the government (Saturday 22/4/2023) by providing space for "Reflections on Idul Fitri: The Conqueror of Idols" by Haedar Nashir, chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, on Thursday (20/4/2023). Thus, Kompas uses the praxis of journalism to show that differences must be respected.

Happy Idul Fitri 1444 H.

Ashadi Siregar, Chairman of Ombudsman at Kompas

This article was translated by Kurnia Siswo.