The Implementation of UKW-Certified Journalists’ Competencies in Digital Journalism Practice: A Case Study of the East Halmahera Journalists’ Community
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The transformation of the digital media ecosystem has fundamentally reshaped journalistic practices, creating new competency demands for journalists worldwide. In Indonesia, the Uji Kompetensi Wartawan (UKW) serves as the primary instrument for ensuring journalistic professionalism; however, empirical studies examining the implementation of these competencies within digital journalism practice remain limited. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of post-UKW journalist competencies and evaluate the relevance of Standar Kompetensi Wartawan (SKW) to contemporary digital journalism needs. Employing a qualitative case study design, this research investigated the Komunitas Wartawan Halmahera Timur (KWHT). Data were collected through in-depth interviews with Lembaga Penguji Kompetensi Wartawan (LPKW) LSPR examiners and journalists who participated in UKW, observations of UKW implementation, and document analysis. The findings revealed that foundational competencies—including information verification, news writing, and journalistic ethics—remained central to journalistic practice. However, the evolving digital media ecosystem necessitated additional competencies, such as data literacy, multiplatform distribution, digital verification, and artificial intelligence utilization, which were not yet fully accommodated within UKW competency standards. This study identified a significant gap between existing competency standards and the demands of digital journalism practice, offering implications for the development of more adaptive Standar Kompetensi Wartawan that are responsive to media industry transformation.
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