BANDUNG, UNIKOM – The Student Activity Unit (UKM) Pers Birama of the Universitas Komputer Indonesia (UNIKOM) held the Journalism Festival “Aksara Rupa Vol.2” on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Held at the 3rd floor auditorium of the Bandung Creative Hub (BCH), with the theme “The Hidden Narrative Behind the Form,” the festival served as a platform for sharing knowledge, ideas, and works in the field of journalism for students and the general public.
The festival is also a continuation of similar activities that have been initiated since 2023, and now comes with a rebranding concept through the name “Aksara Rupa”. The General Chairperson of Pers Birama for the 2024/2025 period, Dessy Angelia Syawalani, from the Communication Studies Program, explained that the event serves as a space for the younger generation to hone their journalistic skills and broaden their horizons in the fields of writing and photography. “Aksara Rupa is a platform for channeling creativity, sharing ideas, and developing one’s potential in the world of journalism,” said Dessy.
The series of Aksara Rupa Vol.2 activities began with a national article and photography competition open to students and the general public. The competition was judged by two judges with expertise and experience in their fields, namely Arif Try Cahyadi, M.Ds., (Lecturer from the Visual Communication Design Study Program, UNIKOM) and Dr. Eriyanti Nurmala Dewi, Dra., M.I.Kom., (Lecturer from the Communication Studies Study Program, UNIKOM). The enthusiasm of participants from various universities in Indonesia demonstrates the high level of interest in journalistic activities that are creatively and educationally packaged. As the highlight of the event, a Journalism Talk Show was held with Raisan Al-Farisi, Chair of the Indonesian Photojournalists Association (PFI) Bandung, featuring an interactive discussion session moderated by Zalfa Destryna Salma, a student of the Communication Studies Program at UNIKOM, with the theme “The Hidden Narrative Behind the Image.”
During the session, Raisan shared his fascinating experiences in the world of photojournalism and emphasized the importance of visual power in conveying public messages. “A single photo can speak more than a thousand words, and it can even open the eyes of many parties to social conditions that need attention,” said Raisan.
The talk show was followed by a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) divided into five groups. Participants were invited to actively participate in creating the best captions for the photos displayed, as well as presenting them to the audience. In addition, visitors were also treated to an exhibition of the contestants’ works, which featured a variety of writings on the themes of education, technology, health, politics, law, human rights, culture, and tradition. The results of the photography contest with themes ranging from human interest and street photography to photojournalism added to the appeal of the event.
The chief organizer, Sabila Hidayati Rabbi from the Communication Studies Program, expressed her appreciation for the enthusiasm of the participants and hoped that the event would benefit all participants and visitors. “Hopefully, through the Talkshow and Aksara Rupa Journalism Festival Vol. 2, the participants can gain inspiration and new enthusiasm to continue their work,” she said.
As a closing, the festival was enlivened by an acoustic performance from Sais Rock, adding a warm and interactive atmosphere amidst the exhibition of works. The Aksara Rupa Vol.2 event serves as real proof of Pers Birama’s commitment to fostering students’ interests and talents in journalism, while also strengthening the spirit of creativity and collaboration within the UNIKOM academic community. (Directorate of Hms & Pro)
