Jakarta, 3 May 2025. In commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, Open Initiatives Day (OID), organized by Ruang & Initiatives at Ruang & Tempo, presented a reflective discussion on equality, vulnerability, and workplace safety within the journalism profession.

This edition of OID was held in collaboration with Tempo.co and featured Fransisca Christy Rosana, widely known as Cicha, a journalist from Tempo’s Bocor Alus Politik desk, as the main speaker.

The event brought together 56 students from diverse backgrounds who sought to understand the real dynamics of journalistic work in the field. Through reflective sessions and open dialogue, participants were invited to examine the realities of journalism more honestly from safety risks and work pressures to the challenges of maintaining safe work environments amid the rapid flow of information and political dynamics.

In her presentation, Cicha emphasized that journalism requires not only courage, but also a work system that is equitable, safe, and gender-sensitive. The vulnerabilities faced by journalists physical, digital, and psychological threats often go unseen by the public, yet they profoundly influence the quality of democracy and press freedom.

OID highlighted the importance of championing equality in the world of work. This includes ensuring safe work environments, protecting media workers, promoting gender equality in newsrooms, and recognizing journalistic work as a fundamental pillar of democracy.

Through an open and participatory discussion format, the 56 participants were encouraged to reflect on how they as future journalists, academics, activists, or citizens can contribute to building a safer and more equitable media ecosystem.

Participants showed strong awareness, particularly in addressing issues such as the safety of women journalists and vulnerable groups, the importance of solidarity within newsrooms, and the urgency of fostering work cultures free from intimidation.

This reflection served as an important step in building collective awareness that press freedom is not only commemorated it must be actively defended.

The session with Bocor Alus Politik (Tempo Media) demonstrated how Open Initiatives Day functions as a meeting space for cross-sector engagement among media stakeholders, communities, academics, activists, and youth. Through such collaborations, OID strengthens its commitment to fostering public learning spaces, cultivating critical awareness, and promoting equality in the workplace, including within the journalism sector.

This initiative aligns with sustainable development commitments, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions).

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More Information:

‍Instagram: @openinitiativesday
Inge Meivi Fania

Community & Public Relations Ruang& Initiatives

‍085183039738