Episode 22 | Is Journalism Dead? Inside Kompas TV’s Digital Survival Strategy with Alexander Wibisono

Journalism vs. Content Creation: The "Verification" Factor

The discussion begins by drawing a hard line between "citizen journalism" and professional journalism. While citizen journalists perform journalistic acts—seeking and sharing information—they lack the institutional verification process and code of ethics. Alex emphasizes that the core distinction is that "News is verified information." To bridge the gap between rigid newsrooms and dynamic digital demands, Kompas TV internally rebranded their producers as "Content Creators." This simple title change shifted the team's mindset from competing with other TV stations to competing with all creators for attention, leading to more creative angles like analyzing license plates during political events rather than just standard reporting.

"The Crab Journalism" & The Business of Survival

How does a media giant survive when TV advertising revenue is shrinking due to post-COVID economic shifts and government budget efficiency? Alex reveals Kompas TV's strategy of "Omnipresence"—being present wherever the audience is, from Smart TVs to TikTok and even Discord. He also touches on the philosophy of "Journalism of the Crab" (Jurnalisme Kepiting) taught by Jakob Oetama: the art of criticizing carefully—moving sideways or stepping back when necessary—to ensure the media institution survives to keep fighting another day, rather than being shut down for being too confrontational.

Mobile Journalism (MoJo) & Global Diplomacy

In a fascinating anecdote about agility, Alex shares how he covered high-level diplomatic meetings involving Retno Marsudi and Aung San Suu Kyi using only an iPhone 6. By utilizing "Mobile Journalism," he was able to provide exclusive live coverage and distribute footage to other stations faster than traditional crews. This eventually led him to cover diplomatic events in Hong Kong, Kuwait, and Rome, proving that the tool matters less than the access and the story.

"Journalism will never die because it is naturally a human habit... but the treatment and the medium must change."

The Future of Talent: 3 Traits for 2025

The episode wraps up with advice for aspiring journalists. Alex identifies three non-negotiable traits for the future:

1. Networking (Bergaul): You must build genuine relationships with everyone from presidents to street criminals to gain access.

2. Curiosity: You must be a "professional asker" who constantly learns new skills, including SEO and algorithms.

3. Endurance: The job requires sacrificing personal time. Alex humorously (but seriously) notes that he asks new recruits if they are ready to break up with their partners because news doesn't respect dates or holidays.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Intro: Welcome Alexander Wibisono (Kompas TV)

• 2:28 - Citizen Journalism vs. Professional Journalism

• 6:13 - "Omnipresence": Hadir di Mana Publik Ada

• 16:21 - Filosofi "Jurnalisme Kepiting" (Crab Journalism)

• 19:35 - The Business Model: TV Ads vs. Digital Revenue

• 26:50 - "Digital First" Policy & Changing "Producers" to "Content Creators"

• 31:41 - YouTube Monetization: Views vs. Brand Safety

• 41:30 - Mobile Journalism: Covering Diplomacy with an iPhone

• 58:00 - Social Media Regulation: Protecting the Youth

• 1:08:25 - 3 Kunci Jadi Jurnalis: Bergaul, Curious, Endurance

Brands/People Mentioned in This Episode:

• Alexander Wibisono: [Wapemred Kompas TV]

• Kompas TV: @kompastv

• Rosianna Silalahi: @silalahirosi

• Friska Clarisa: @frisca_clarissa

• Prita Laura: @pritalaura.lulu

• Jakob Oetama: [Founder Kompas Gramedia]

• Retno Marsudi: @retno_marsudi

• Proxemics Podcast: @proxemicspodcast

Our Agencies:

• www.praxis.co.id

• www.prajna.co.id

• www.explicar.co.id

• www.whitewood.digital