Jakarta (ANTARA) - The ANTARA News Agency is hoping for government and parliamentary support to increase its global coverage through the addition of more foreign branches, according to president director Akhmad Munir.
At a working meeting with Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, Munir pointed out that during the New Order era, ANTARA had 15 foreign branches, including in the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Australia, and Egypt during its subordination to the State Secretariat.
However, the number dwindled following ANTARA's transformation into a public corporation, with the company only retaining its foreign branches in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, along with a correspondent in Tokyo.
"We have a plan to expand but are not yet capable of funding it ourselves. We hope that the government can devise a funding model to help us strengthen our overseas presence as during the New Order era before the Reform Era (began in 1998)," he said at the meeting.
Munir added that since it was founded in 1937, ANTARA has strived to produce text, photo, and video news reports and develop journalistic products to cater to the ever-evolving demands of modern times.
Baca juga: DPR RI minta ANTARA, TVRI, dan RRI tak berkompetisi dengan media swasta
Hundreds of ANTARA journalists are scattered in almost three-quarters of cities and districts across Indonesia, he said, adding that the news agency can produce up to 250,000 news reports for readers and wire subscribers annually.
"We aim to reach every aspect of daily life where people access information. When you see our digital channel and our digital billboards in West Java or at hospitals, airports, and train stations, they are part of our media canal," Munir said.
Baca juga: ANTARA, TVRI dan RRI diusulkan jadi satu lembaga
During the meeting on Monday, ANTARA executives presented the company's work plan for 2025 before members of Commission VII. They were joined by executives of Indonesia's two public broadcasters: TVRI and RRI.
