GKR Hemas: Don't Wait for an Issue to Go Viral to Understand Regional Issues

24 September 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, dpd.go.id – Vice Speaker of the House of Regional Representative of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) GKR Hemas has asked DPD RI expert staff to shift their digital communication approach from simply documenting activities to focusing on reading, understanding, and monitoring regional issues. She believes that strong content is not solely built on visual creativity but must stem from an understanding of the substance and issues currently facing the community.

"Staff should not only learn about an issue after it has gone viral. We should not only understand the problem after the public is talking about it. We must first read, understand, monitor, and report to the members of the DPD RI as an initial step of anticipation," said GKR Hemas when opening the Digital Media Content Training "Creative Content & Digital Storytelling Through Smartphones" for expert staff DPD RI members who are members of FOKUS DPD RI in Jakarta, Thursday (24/9/2026).

He stated that the DPD RI's character as a regional representative institution makes its public communications work unique. DPD RI members are directly elected from each province and bring various issues, aspirations, and struggles of local communities to the national level. Therefore, substantive work needs to be communicated well so that the public understands the link between the DPD's work and their interests in the regions.

The senator from Yogyakarta emphasized that content creation skills cannot be achieved in isolation without mastering the substance. Creativity needs to be coupled with sensitivity to government policies, issues of public concern, and issues relevant to the DPD RI's agenda.

"We shouldn't be good at creating content without fully understanding what we're fighting for. Creativity can't exist in isolation; it must be accompanied by substance and prudence," he said.

According to him, this principle needs to become a work culture for all supporting elements of DPD RI members, not just staff handling communications or media. Staff assisting members must understand strategic issues in the region, follow policies that could potentially impact the region, and understand the context of issues raised by the public.

"Public communication isn't a separate task from substantive work. Communication must stem from an understanding of the substance. Strong substance leads to a stronger narrative. If we understand the issue, we'll know what's important to convey to the public," he explained.

GKR Hemas also warned about the challenges of communication amidst the rapid flow of digital information. Misinformation can spread rapidly, video clips can be taken out of context, and unverified headlines and information can shape public perception.

Therefore, the use of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), must be accompanied by responsibility. AI can be used to help expedite work, but it cannot replace human verification processes.

"Technology may advance, but human responsibility must not diminish. We must continue to ensure that what we convey is accurate, relevant, proportional, and accountable," he stressed.

He hopes the training will go beyond improving technical skills in creating photos, videos, and digital materials. When accompanying DPD RI members to the regions, staff are expected to not only consider what can be documented, but also be able to interpret what is happening, capture community aspirations, identify strategic issues, understand members' struggles, and determine what needs to be monitored after the visit.

"Content isn't just a record of activities. It's how we explain the DPD RI's work to the public," he said.

The Digital Media Content Training attracted over 300 participants. The training covered copywriting, public communication, aspiration data visualization and content production, cinematography, and audience retention, aimed at enhancing the expertise of the DPD RI's expert staff.

GKR Hemas hopes that this capacity building will produce DPD RI support staff who are not only skilled at producing content, but also able to understand the substance, quickly read changes, be sensitive to regional issues, and better oversee the struggles of DPD RI Members.