A leading Indonesian bishop has urged journalists to reclaim their role as guardians of truth and promoters of peace amid the growing spread of disinformation, hoaxes, and polarization in the digital age.
Bishop Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo of Surabaya, chair of the Social Communications Commission of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, appealed during a meeting with members of the Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association at the bishop’s residence in Surabaya on April 30.
“Be witnesses of truth who bring peace,” the bishop said in a report by the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference.
Widely known as Bishop Didik, the prelate said journalism must go beyond simply delivering information and instead help ensure that “the light of truth continues to shine amid the flood of disinformation.”
His remarks come as concerns continue to grow globally over false information, political polarization, and unverified content circulating widely on social media platforms.
Bishop Didik said journalism must remain rooted in integrity and public responsibility, adding that media platforms “should not become barriers but instead serve as forces that complement one another in realizing truth and peace.”
“Journalism is not merely a profession. It is a calling to serve society, to guard the public conscience, the voice of the people’s conscience, and to bring peace through responsible words,” he said.
“Truth is one and not divided,” he added.
The meeting in Surabaya also followed discussions surrounding a memorandum of understanding signed in March between the Indonesian bishops’ communications commission and the Vatican Dicastery for Communication regarding the official use of the Indonesian language by the Vatican.
The agreement was signed by Bishop Agustinus and Dr. Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, at the Vatican on March 25. The Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association, known as PWKI, had earlier proposed the use of Bahasa Indonesia by the Vatican.
Bishop Didik said journalism should also contribute beyond the newsroom through “cultural diplomacy, bridges of communication between nations, and the strengthening of Indonesia’s identity on the global stage.”
During the same meeting, PWKI chairperson Asni Ovier DP warned against the growing spread of unverified and one-sided information online, saying journalists remain essential in defending ethical reporting standards.
“Today there is more and more false, one-sided, and even tendentious information circulating on social media without any confirmation whatsoever,” Ovier said.
He said journalists and media organizations must act as “gatekeepers, filters, and verifiers of information.”
Ovier also warned journalists against adopting the culture of social media for personal gain.
“Journalists should not imitate social media styles. Just for personal gain, they spread slander, fake news, and one-sided information,” he said.
