By: Bersihar Lubis

SORRY, we are also tired of reading news which is a ceremonial event. News of the ceremony often graced the print media, and online. Starting from the anniversary of an institution, reunions, transfers, and handovers of officials, seminars, the inauguration of political party administrators, food assistance, a celebration of holidays, and other similar things.

If judging, the contents are more likely to be some kind of press release. Reporting on internal activities, the contents of which are not always related to literacy-education, let alone the intelligence of the community. It is more in the interests of the organizers so that their activities are known to the public.

In contrast to events that are not ceremonial. For example, traffic accidents, crime incidents, fires, floods, debates in a seminar, powerful and quality artistic performances or music performances, the final event of a sports competition, or the suffering of people in remote villages, and so on. This type of news wants to be known by the public.

This latest type of news, besides being very informative, the public also wants to know the cause. Become a "learning" together, and various sides that are beneficial to the public interest.

Indeed, when viewed from the definition of news, the two types of news both meet the criteria for news. That is, the report of an event is equipped with elements of 5W and! H.

What distinguishes it is the level of public interest. The first type of news focuses more on the interests of the organizers, although there is an informative element so that the public knows it, for example, who are the old and new officials who are handing over.

But it seems that the ceremonial news is lacking, if not unattractive to read. Too formal and stiff. Usually just reading the title, people tend to miss it. Didn't read to the end.

If the quantity of this ceremonial news is too much, how much news is passed by the readers? It's a shame that the pages that were used were actually at a time when paper prices were too expensive.

Not Public Relations

So, the question should be how. Is this ceremonial news still published or vice versa? It feels like it's back to the editorial policies of each media.

I feel it is necessary to evaluate the pluses and minuses of loading ceremonial news. I tend to negate it if it comes across as news.

However, to be more moderate, a special column is provided for ceremonial news. However, it is treated as an advertisement or advertorial at a friendly rate.

Of course not with a policy that is "black and white." If the ceremonial news is packaged in-depth, it may be published as news.

The official handover is usually completed by displaying the profile of the new official. Described his important and interesting work experience, his education, what his hobbies were, his wife and children to what his comments were with the new position. Readers may feel the need to read it and will be interested.

Seminar news, if accompanied by the course of the seminar, interesting debates that arise, or excerpts of interesting speaker papers, and is something new, still deserves to be written as news. No advertorials.

Of course, very important ceremonial news, such as the inauguration of a large national project, deserves to be published. Equipped with a project description that readers need to know, what is its strategic meaning and impact on the community is also displayed.

Do not forget the course of the ceremony which describes the atmosphere as if the reader feels present directly at the event.

Including not ignoring the ratification of the APBN or APBD. Describe the posture, the difference from the previous APBN-APBD. Snapshots of new things or interesting projects. Complement it with comments from budget observers, or at least comments from legislators.

The very important types of ceremonial news, of course, can be formulated in an editorial policy. Although flexible but still scalable and not complicated to translate.

Thus, print and online media have returned to their identity as news media. Not a government bulletin or an in-house newspaper. Returning true to the news adage as the man bites the dog. It's not dogs biting people.

Journalists are increasingly consistent in doing a true journalistic profession. As a reporter, as a reporter on various events. Not like public relations or public relations for an agency, corporation, and organization. Adieu! *