YOGYAKARTA – Alip Kunandar, S.Sos., M.Si., a lecturer from the Department of Communication Studies at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, featured as the keynote speaker at a Guest Lecture organized by the Journalism Study Program at Universitas Bengkulu (UNIB). Held online on Friday (12/12/2025), the event centered on the highly relevant theme, "New Phenomena in Digital Journalism" (Fenomena Baru Jurnalisme Digital).

In his presentation, Alip highlighted the fundamental shifts occurring within the current media ecosystem. He emphasized that the transition from conventional to digital journalism represents more than a mere migration of platforms; it constitutes a comprehensive transformation encompassing production processes, distribution channels, and audience consumption patterns.

"Digital journalism has entirely reshaped the ecosystem. Its implications extend beyond journalistic practices, impacting the broader social and cultural contexts of society," Alip stated while addressing the students of Universitas Bengkulu.

Alip outlined ten key phenomena that define the era of digital journalism. Crucial points discussed included the shift to real-time information speed, the rise of public participation through citizen journalism, and the significant role of algorithms in creating filter bubbles and echo chambers.

Furthermore, the author of the book "Memahami Jurnalisme Digital" (Understanding Digital Journalism) addressed the challenges of the post-truth era, where objective truth is often obscured by personal beliefs and emotions. He also dissected the commodification of attention—often referred to as the attention economy—which fuels clickbait culture, as well as audience fragmentation, particularly among Generation Z, whose media consumption habits differ vastly from previous generations.

The session featured an interactive discussion marked by high student enthusiasm. Responding to a participant's concern regarding the future of the journalistic profession amidst the rapid advancement of technology and social media, Alip offered an optimistic perspective.

"Journalism will never die; only the medium changes. As long as humanity requires information, journalism will persist. The key lies in the ability to adapt to multi-platform environments while maintaining content quality," he asserted.

The guest lecture concluded with hopes for stronger academic collaboration between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and Universitas Bengkulu in the future, encompassing potential initiatives such as lecturer exchanges and joint research projects. (K.Ind)

Watch the full video below: