Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with 7 journalists from 7 different media outlets in Hambalang, West Java on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The seven journalists interviewed Prabowo together.
The interview moment was shared by Prabowo through his Instagram account @Prabowo on Sunday, April 6, 2025. On that occasion, Prabowo answered several questions related to current issues.
"Today I had the opportunity to be interviewed together with 7 journalists from 7 media outlets in the country," Prabowo said through his Instagram account as quoted on Sunday, April 6, 2025.
In the photo shared by Prabowo, the journalists present were the chief editors (Pemred) of detikcom, Alfito Deannova Gintings, tvOne, Lalu Mara Satriawangsa, IDN Times, Uni Lubis, and Narasi's Founder, Najwa Shihab.
There were also the chief editors of Kompas Daily, Sutta Dharmasaputra, SCTV-Indosiar, Retno Pinasti, and TVRI's News Anchor, Valerina Daniel, as the moderator
Prabowo expressed his gratitude to the 7 journalists who interviewed him. He hopes that the explanations given can be accepted and become comprehensive and clear information.
"Hopefully the answers and explanations that I have provided can be accepted and become comprehensive and clear information for the public," said the Head of State.
Prior to this, President Prabowo Subianto invited several chief editors and senior figures of the mass media for a discussion at his residence in Padepokan Garuda Yaksa, Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Saturday, February 22, 2025. In that meeting, Prabowo was accompanied by the State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi.
According to an official statement from President Prabowo's Media Team, the meeting lasted for about six hours. Prabowo and the media leaders exchanged thoughts on current issues that are developing. This meeting was held almost 20 months after the meeting on June 18, 2023.
The Director of News at Antara News Agency, Irfan Junaedi, said he gained a large overview of various government-initiated policies.
According to Irfan, President Prabowo explained in detail the reasons for various decisions made, including about expenditure efficiency, and the government's major program, Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).
A political communication expert from Paramadina University, Hendri Satrio, assessed that the government's poor public communication was the reason President Prabowo Subianto invited the chief editors of the mass media.
The man known as Hensa said that the government's poor communication is evident from the rulers' failure to understand hashtags such as #AdiliJokowi, #KamiBersamaSukatani, #IndonesiaGelap, and #KaburAjaDulu on social media.
"Because of its poor public communication, the President felt the need to directly convey to the chief editors to maintain good relations between the government and the mass media," said Hensa to Tempo, on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
– Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this article.