JAKARTA, 14 December 2020 – Maverick Indonesia, a leading communication consultancy, and Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Indonesia successfully concluded The Journalist Fellowship Program 2020. The initiative empowered journalists affected by the Covid-19 pandemic with new skills, insights, and resources to continue producing impactful journalism during challenging times.
The program trained 40 journalists across two batches and produced more than 100 journalistic works on health, environment, economy, society, and lifestyle issues related to the pandemic.
The fellowship was designed as a capacity building program for journalists in Indonesia who were impacted by the pandemic.
Batch 1: 21 September – 23 October 2020 (15 participants)
Batch 2: 11 November – 11 December 2020 (25 participants)
The second batch also marked the closing of the entire program, supported by sponsors OPPO Indonesia and Pfizer.
Key Outputs: 100+ Journalistic Works
Participants created in-depth stories on pandemic challenges, including:
“Solusi Layanan Daring Pasien Kanker” by Bram Setiawan (Tempo)
“Nasib Malang Guru Honorer di Aceh Dihantam Pandemi” by Mulyadi (acehtrend.com)
“Akhir COVID-19, Haruskah Memilih Antara Kesehatan dan Ekonomi” by Aisyah Kamaliah (Detik.com)
These works showcased the critical role of journalism in providing accurate, timely, and socially relevant information during the crisis.
Stakeholder Voices
Abdul Manan, Chairman of AJI Indonesia
“This fellowship not only helps reduce journalists’ economic burdens but also enhances their skills and knowledge. The media’s role is vital in ensuring accurate information and holding authorities accountable during the pandemic.”
Aisyah Kamaliah, Fellowship Participant
“Being part of this program was an honor. I gained long-term skills in soft areas like health and technology, delivered by experts, which are crucial for journalism in pandemic times.”
Aryo Meidianto, PR Manager, OPPO Indonesia
“As a technology company, we value our relationship with the media. This fellowship provides journalists with new insights into the technology industry, strengthening collaboration during the pandemic.”
Lita Soenardi, Director of Maverick Indonesia
“We initiated this program to support journalists affected by the pandemic and to give companies a chance to contribute to media resilience. We hope this inspires more corporations to support the journalism ecosystem.”
Impact on Journalism & Pandemic Narratives
The Journalist Fellowship Program 2020 demonstrates how capacity building for journalists can:
Sustain the quality of journalism in times of crisis
Provide opportunities for collaboration between the media and private sector
Empower journalists to continue their role as guardians of truth and accountability
Key Takeaways
40 journalists trained in pandemic reporting
100+ stories on health, economy, environment, and lifestyle
Partnerships with OPPO & Pfizer strengthened media capacityCollaboration between Maverick Indonesia and AJI Indonesia for independent, impactful journalism
About Maverick Indonesia
Maverick Indonesia is a strategic communication consultancy founded in 2002. It has supported blue-chip companies including Airbus, APP Sinar Mas, Danone-AQUA, Spotify, WhatsApp, and Xiaomi.
Maverick specializes in purpose-driven strategies, monitoring & analytics, and reputation protection. Over the last decade, Maverick has built strong partnerships with opinion leaders and communities through initiatives such as PechaKucha Night Jakarta, Catalyst, MaVoice, The Recruit, and Comms Club.
About AJI Indonesia
Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) was founded on 7 August 1994 as a movement for press freedom during Indonesia’s repressive era. Today, AJI has 38 city branches and focuses on:
Press freedom advocacy
Professionalism and welfare of journalists
Gender and inclusivity in media programs
AJI conducts campaigns, training, workshops, seminars, research, and scholarship programs to strengthen journalism across Indonesia.
Contact Information
Shinta Angriyana
Associate Media Outreach
📞 0813-1101-0840
📧 [email protected]
