Article written by: Kaoem Telapak
on March 14, 2025
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Broadcasting Media as an Information Funnel on Environmental and Forestry Issues

In accordance with Law No. 32 of 2002, broadcasting in Indonesia is mandated to play a role in environmental preservation. Despite this directive, the proportion of news coverage dedicated to environmental matters remains regrettably scant.

“The portion of news about the environment is still very small,” lamented Hisam Setiawan, a prominent member of Kaoem Telapak from Riau.

Hisam is a Commissioner of the Riau Regional Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID Riau). His longstanding interaction with Kaoem Telapak traces back to its earlier incarnation as Telapak. During his university years, Hisam was actively engaged with environmental groups, notably joining the Sungkai Nature Lovers Student Brigade. Many of his contemporaries advanced into civil society movements, including the Indigenous Peoples movement. Together with seniors at Yayasan Hakiki, a civil society organisation in Riau, Hisam and his colleagues managed to help form the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Riau (AMAR) at that time. ‘The aim was to strengthen and develop the issue of Indigenous Peoples‘ rights,’ he said.

Subsequently, Hisam encountered Zain and Hapsoro, who were championing the Ciliwung River care community. “I brought that spirit to Riau by establishing River Defender, a community that cares about rivers in Riau,” Hisam recounted.

Setelah itu dia bertemu Zain dan Hapsoro yang sedang gencar mengkampanyekan komunitas peduli sungai Ciliwung. “Semangat itu saya bawa ke Riau dengan mendirikan River Defender, sebuah komunitas yang peduli sungai-sungai di Riau,” kata Hisam.

Hisam Setiawan, Kaoem Telapak Member from Riau

The River Defender community frequently organises expeditions exploring Riau’s rivers, from their sources to their mouths. This community has grown increasingly active. Hisam was soon invited to become a member of Kaoem Telapak. “The inauguration was in Kulon Progo, where I focused more on the documentation aspect,” Hisam explained.

Following his appointment, Hisam became more deeply involved in environmental issues. Together with his colleagues, he founded the Peat and Mangrove Foundation, a body dedicated to monitoring ecosystems and empowering communities around peat and mangrove areas. “This foundation was established because most of Riau is peat and mangrove areas,” Hisam noted.

The foundation frequently conducts investigations in these areas and addresses issues such as forest fires. It also engages local communities in planting Liberica coffee as an alternative livelihood. “Riau has experienced severe forest fires, which caused many areas to be covered in smoke, leading to rampant respiratory diseases,” he remarked.

Currently, Hisam is serving his second term as Commissioner of KPID Riau. In this strategic position, he is committed to championing environmental issues. He frequently urges broadcast media in Riau to consistently cover environmental topics. “Don’t forget the portion of news that contains environmental aspects,” Hisam emphasised.

However, Hisam acknowledges several challenges that hinder the prominence of environmental issues in broadcast media. The first challenge, he notes, is the transformation of the broadcasting industry. “People are less likely to watch television and listen to radio. Everyone is switching to internet-based media,” he observed.

This shift in media consumption patterns has made it difficult for many local television and radio stations to secure funding, with some being acquired by national entities. Consequently, broadcast media often resort to airing older content when asked to feature environmental issues. “This is because production costs are high while income is low,” Hisam explained.

Looking to the future, Hisam aspires for broadcast media to continue disseminating the message of environmental and forest conservation, thereby heightening public and youth awareness of these critical issues. “I hope that people will be more aware of environmental issues through broadcast media,” he expressed.