Agus Triyono, an official from the ministry's Directorate General of Information and Public Communication, said that participating journalists are expected to cover Papua in a more positive light after the visit.
"Hence, residents can understand the tourism, economy, infrastructure, politics, and security development in Papua thoroughly," he explained here on Tuesday.
He said he expects that after the visit, journalists will be more prudent in reporting news about Papua and avoid blowing up negative news, which has minimal effect in the region.
Triyono informed that during their visit to Jayapura, his team took the eight journalists to a dialogue with ANTARA News Agency's Papua bureau and Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Jayapura, as well as a public dialogue on citizen journalism.
He said he also expects ANTARA News Agency to play a greater role in disseminating information amid technological advancements.
Meanwhile, Aldiro Syahrian, a journalist for Pikiran Rakyat daily, said that he is keen to observe social life and the development in Papua through the lens of a journalist.
"We cannot deny there are stereotypes that Papua is far more disadvantaged than other regions in Indonesia, which remains one of our major 'homework,'" he added.
Syahrian said that after the visit to Papua, he will emphasize in his news reports that Papua is no longer disadvantaged as locals can now reap the benefits of development promoted by the government.
Moreover, the head of ANTARA News Agency's Papua bureau, Hendrina Dian Kandipi, commended the ministry's initiative to send journalists to Papua to help them expand their knowledge of conditions in the easternmost part of the country.
"We expect more journalists will come to Papua, so they will convey a better perception (about the region) through their reports," Kandipi remarked.
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Translator: Ardiles Leloltery, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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