UNAIR NEWS - Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held Media and Public Relations Alumni Gathering. The theme of the event was “Optimizing Alumni Network in Media to Increase Graduates' Employability”. The activity took place on Thursday, July 11, 2020 in Tarumanegara Room, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, UNAIR.

Present at the gathering were Deputy Chief Editor of Jawa Pos Tatang Mahardika and Eko Darmoko, a journalist from Surya Daily who is also an alumnus of FIB. Also attending the event were Prof. Dr. Purnawan Basundoro SS MHum, Dean of FIB UNAIR; Dr. Listiyono Santoso SS MHum, Vice Dean I; Chairman of the Committee Nuri Hermawan SS MHum; and Chairman of the FIB UNAIR Alumni Family Association, Ezith Perdana Estafeta.

Alumni Communication Network
On the occasion of sharing with fellow alumni, Tatang shared his early experiences in pursuing a career that did not escape the role of connections with fellow alumni. He said that after graduating, Tatang joined an internship at The Indonesian Daily News media thanks to networking with alumni.

According to Tatang, networking with alumni is very important. Because, from there he can get all the information. “I was also able to get an internship there thanks to networking with seniors, fellow alumni. Because there are already some seniors working there, and from them who provide information,” he explained.

In line with Tatang, Eko also agreed on the importance of networking with fellow alumni. “When I first became a journalist at Surya, I was in the lifestyle section, but I actually had no knowledge in lifestyle,” he said.

Eko also builds relationships with alumni to improve his skills. The relationship, he said, has been built since he was in college. “Then I shared with fellow alumni and it continued, even when I moved to another post. My circle from college to graduation were mostly journalists or editors in the media, so they are still in touch. And it goes naturally, maybe because of the association of fellow alumni, fellow FIB graduates in terms of work in an agency,” he continued.

Curriculum Relevance in the World of Work
In the reality of the world of work, especially journalists, Tatang admits that some of the learning in this lecture is still relevant and can help. “About writing when I was in college, we used to be required to make papers, drama scripts, and various writing assignments in other courses. I think that's what is relevant and helpful later on when working, basic writing, and of course English,” said Tatang.

These relevant things were not enough to make him satisfied, Tatang gave suggestions regarding the relevance of FIB UNAIR's curriculum in the future to students. He said, the curriculum at FIB in the future can be designed to be more specific in honing student skills.

“Maybe in the future it can be more specific to hone the sharpness of friends, for example like creative writing. Because, I think there are many things related to FIB that can be developed more because, the world is changing very fast. There is a time to update, and in the future there will be many new things that come and need to be addressed,” he added.

Author: Annisa Nabila

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati