BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — The 14th anniversary of the Indonesian Online Journalists Association (IWO) and the first anniversary of IWO Bali received support from a number of government agencies, law enforcement institutions and public service organizations across Bali.

The support was seen as part of efforts to strengthen synergy between the press, government, law enforcement agencies and public service institutions while maintaining the independence of journalism.

The anniversary celebration was held at the Bali Provincial Tourism Office Hall on Sunday (August 30, 2026), attended by government officials and representatives of various institutions.

Director of Jamkrida Bali, Anak Agung Ngurah Adhi Ardana, S.T., expressed his appreciation for IWO Bali’s development. He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Jamkrida Bali and IWO Bali was expected to strengthen public literacy and education on financing and credit services provided by the institution.

“Here in Bali, it continues to grow. This year, it has increased despite being challenged by many online lending platforms from outside Bali. However, public trust in Jamkrida remains high,” he said.

He stressed that the media plays an important role in delivering accurate and easily understandable information to the public, particularly regarding Jamkrida’s financing services.

IWO Bali Chairperson Tri Widiyanti said the cooperation with Jamkrida Bali would provide an opportunity to expand public education and financial literacy.

“This synergy with Jamkrida is important so that we can provide information about the financing system offered by Jamkrida,” she said.

Tri emphasized that the support from various institutions for IWO Bali’s anniversary reflected positive relations and synergy between the press and different institutions. However, she underlined that IWO Bali remains an independent press organization and is not part of the government.

“The press is not only here to report current issues. It must also be constructive and build optimism in journalism while creating opportunities for collaboration with the government,” she said.

At the same time, Tri stressed that IWO Bali would continue to uphold its critical role in journalism.

“We report what is good, and we criticize what is not,” she said firmly.

Support for the anniversary celebration also came from the Bali Police. Head of the Bali Police Public Relations Division, Senior Commissioner Ariasandy, who attended the event, praised IWO Bali’s progress.

“We will continue to support IWO. Hopefully, IWO will continue to grow and contribute through its work to society and the press,” he said.

The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office also participated in supporting the event. Head of the Immigration Information and Communication Technology Division, Ferry Tri Ardhiansyah, attended the celebration together with his colleagues.

Support was also extended by several public officials and institutions, including House of Representatives member Gde Sumarjaya Linggih of the Golkar Party, House of Representatives member I Nyoman Parta of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Bali Regional House of Representatives Commission II Chair Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, Commission I Chair Budi Utama, House of Representatives member Tuty Kusuma Wardhani of the Democratic Party, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, the Jembrana Regency Government and other strategic partners.

Other institutions and stakeholders supporting the anniversary included Jamkrida Bali, Bali Police, the Bali Provincial Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Office, Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Atambua Immigration Office, the Bali National Land Agency (BPN), BPD Bali, Badung Police, Tabanan Police, Bali Netizen, the Secretariat of the Bali Regional House of Representatives and the Bali Police Directorate of Intelligence and Security.

IWO Bali said the institutional support did not compromise the independence of the press. Instead, the organization viewed the cooperation as an opportunity to strengthen the media’s role in providing information and public education while maintaining its social control function over development policies and their implementation.

The anniversary carried a broader message that collaboration between the press and public institutions can be strengthened without compromising journalistic independence, professionalism and the media’s critical role in a democratic society.