The bustling newsroom of Kompas.com serves as the backdrop for the daily life of Alinda Hardiantoro, a Class of 2017 Arabic Literature alumna from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS). Every morning, she confronts a barrage of issues demanding dissection: politics, economics, law, health, lifestyle, and international conflicts. In her hands, these raw updates are crafted into narratives that are coherent, balanced, and most importantly: verified.
"Working as a journalist is truly a whirlwind of emotions," says the reporter, who has been with PT Kompas Cyber Media since February 2022. Excitement, joy, and exhaustion all blend together in a high-discipline rhythm that demands rapid information updates in the age of social media.
Early Footsteps: The Library and Andy Noya
The seeds of Alinda’s love for writing and journalism were sown in childhood. Access to a well-stocked elementary school library opened her world to reading, a habit she nurtured through middle and vocational high school, where she became active in journalism extracurriculars.
A turning point arrived during an internship at PT Garudafood Putra-Putri Jaya in Gresik, just before her high school graduation. There, Alinda read a book by renowned Indonesian journalist Andy Noya. The book introduced her to the profession, highlighting a career that required discipline alongside a voracious appetite for reading and writing.
"I think that was the moment I started aspiring to be a journalist," she recalls.
However, the path to that dream wasn't a straight line. While studying Arabic Literature at UNS, Alinda missed the registration window for the Student Press Institute (LPM). Undeterred, she joined the Kalpadruma student organization at her faculty and took elective journalism courses. Interestingly, in her fifth semester, she chose to intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than a media outlet. "When else would I get the chance to intern there?" she reasoned.
Finding Passion with Eka Kurniawan
A seminar on "passion" featuring the celebrated author Eka Kurniawan proved to be a moment of clarity for Alinda. One statement from Eka echoed in her mind: "If you like—or even love—something, you won't be confused about how to start."
Those words prompted Alinda to reflect on her joy for reading and writing. "I thought, I’ve found my passion: writing," she says.
Amidst working on her thesis, Alinda began actively blogging and interning as a journalist for the UNS Public Relations department. These steps were not just to channel her interests, but to build a portfolio.
Entering Kompas.com: Verification and Precision
In late 2021, Alinda found a reporter opening at Kompas.com via the job platform Kalibrr. She applied using her portfolio from the UNS PR internship and "evergreen" articles from her previous workplace. The selection process was rigorous, involving interviews with HR and users, followed by written tests covering news writing and coverage planning. Good news arrived around January 2022, and she officially started in February.
As a reporter for the "Tren" channel—known internally as the "jack-of-all-trades" desk where anything goes—Alinda’s job description goes beyond mere writing. She must scout news topics, identify the right sources, conduct interviews and data research, process the findings, and finally, write the story.
Arabic as a Strategic Asset
Her background in Arabic Literature has proven to be a valuable asset, particularly when covering Middle Eastern news, such as the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.
"Arabic language skills are highly necessary. I am required to find credible, balanced sources before processing them into a news story," she reveals.
Accurate translation from Arabic to Indonesian is crucial, given that conflict issues are sensitive and prone to misinformation. At Kompas.com, Alinda is not the only Arabic Literature graduate—her editor happens to be an alumnus from UGM—but such graduates are a rarity in the newsroom.
The Challenge of the AI Era
Amidst the dynamic work environment—marked by a lack of seniority complexes, opportunities to meet inspiring figures, and an expanding network—Alinda faces a modern challenge: the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in news writing.
"Nowadays, people can use AI to write. It’s faster; you just input a prompt, and the news draft is done," she notes.
She recalls a recent incident that caused a stir in journalistic circles: "A while ago, a story went viral because it was clearly written by AI, but the author forgot to edit it."
For Alinda, that case served as a stark warning to the media industry that technological convenience can be a trap if it sacrifices quality and credibility. It reinforced her conviction not to merely chase speed.
Her approach to this challenge is distinct. "I can only face this by trying to write with 'rasa' (heart/feeling) and presenting what the reader cannot see through my writing." This principle distinguishes a journalistic product from content creation: verification and confirmation. The diligence in seeking sources, the courage to confirm directly with subjects, and the ability to present deeper perspectives are things algorithms cannot replace.
A Message to Aspiring Journalists
For students interested in diving into the world of journalism, Alinda has a simple message: start writing.
"Even though video products are currently more consumed, writing remains the primary foundation. If the writing is good, whether it's processed into a video or anything else, the result will be good and easily understood by the audience," she advises.
She suggests writing about everyday observations. If there is a concern or anxiety, write it down. Then, attempt to confirm and verify by asking those involved, or professors and experts who understand the issue.
The resulting articles or videos can be uploaded to blogs, social media, or sent to media outlets. "There are so many platforms that can be used to build a portfolio to support your job search after graduation," she says.
In the busy newsroom, Alinda continues to hone her ability to write with heart. Every story she crafts is proof that the passion she discovered as a child—reading and writing—has become a life path she walks with confidence. As Eka Kurniawan said in the quote she holds dear: If you love something, you won't be confused about how to start.
