RRI Yogyakarta Leadership Transition Marks Renewal on National Awakening Day

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - Indonesia’s public broadcaster RRI Yogyakarta highlighted its cultural legacy and future direction through a solemn leadership handover ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the station's auditorium in Demangan, Yogyakarta.

Attended by Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo, LPP RRI Director of Technology and New Media Muhamad Sujai, and RRI Yogyakarta's management and employees, the ceremony marked the official transition from Akhmad Suhartono to Taufan Pamungkas Marhaendra Jaya, who previously led RRI Denpasar, Bali.

Akhmad Suhartono, or Dono as he is affectionately called, was formally appointed as head of RRI Yogyakarta Station in Jakarta on June 30, 2025. “RRI must remain active and responsive because it is one of the few public radio institutions still standing while many private stations have collapsed,” Dono said in his farewell remark at the ceremony.

Known for his firm yet approachable leadership, Dono built a disciplined and professional work culture while staying close to his staff. He emphasized human resource development and teamwork, ensuring RRI Yogyakarta remained relevant and respected.

“Alhamdulillah (All praises to Allah), Jogja is still a center of public attention, and RRI continues to exist as a trusted medium,” he added.

Taufan, with 32 years of service at RRI, pledged to continue Dono’s achievements while adapting to new audience trends. He emphasized podcast development as a priority, reflecting the shift in listener habits.

“Podcasting will be our priority because audiences are moving from radio to podcasts, and we must capture them with thematic and cultural content,” Taufan explained after the ceremony on Wednesday.

He also highlighted the importance of cultural programming, noting Yogyakarta's identity as the heart of RRI’s traditional broadcasts. “We will strengthen Jogja’s cultural heritage -- gamelan, wayang, and traditional arts -- while fostering harmony within the team, with the environment, and with God,” Taufan added.

He underlined collaboration both internally and externally, ensuring unity across departments and partnerships with local administration. “There should be no more divisions between news, broadcasting, new media, or technical teams. We must work together and also build synergy with regional administrations,” he said.

Mayor Hasto Wardoyo praised Dono’s leadership and welcomed Taufan’s appointment, stressing RRI’s role as a public educator. “RRI plays a vital role in informing and educating society, and we continue to collaborate through programs like Walikota Menyapa (Mayor's Greeting),” Hasto said.

According to Hasto, the biggest challenge facing Yogyakarta today is social reconstruction, particularly changing public behavior in waste management. “The role of RRI and other media is to educate, inform, and also develop ideology together,” he explained.

Hasto emphasized that the problem lies not in downstream processing but in household awareness. “The real issue is not downstream processing but how to change people’s character so they sort waste at home. If separated properly, waste can become a blessing,” he remarked.

He noted that thanks to public education campaigns, Yogyakarta reduced its waste depots from 45 to 12, eliminating overnight waste accumulation. “This is the importance of education, and RRI has been a strong partner in raising awareness,” Hasto reaffirmed.

Coinciding with National Awakening Day, Hasto linked the occasion to Indonesia’s broader aspirations for independence and resilience. “With Yogyakarta's independence as a symbol of national awakening, we need young heroes with vision. By 2045, we must achieve economic self-reliance, and I believe RRI can help voice the ideology of defending our nation,” he declared. ***