Collaboration of Relung Indonesia and Mojok.Co Develops the Creativity of Petungkriyono Youth Through Digital Storytelling Training

Relung Indonesia Foundation successfully facilitated and held the “Capacity Building Digital Storytelling” training by presenting speakers from the Mojok.Co Team on 8-10 October 2024 in Petungkriyono. This training was attended by local Petungkriyono youth who have great potential in developing digital content. They are expected to be able to introduce Petungkriyono to the world through digital platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. With its attractive natural tourism potential, as well as extraordinary biodiversity, Petungkriyono is indeed worthy of being promoted as a leading tourist destination. This training was also attended by the institution’s staff to increase their capacity in conveying good practices in the field.

The event was opened with remarks from Yudistira Soeherman, Director of Relung Indonesia. He emphasized the importance of the role of the internet in the lives of today’s youth. “The young generation in Petungkriyono has adequate internet access. With good storytelling skills, they can use this technology to tell stories about the natural beauty and culture of their region,” said Yudistira. The hope is that this training will be able to mobilize the creativity of the young people of Petungkriyono, turning local stories into digital content that is not only interesting but also has a broad impact.

Overcoming Challenges in the Digital World

In the training session led by Agung Purwandono from Mojok.Co, participants were invited to recognize the challenges they often face in the digital world. Challenges such as lack of self-confidence, difficult-to-understand social media algorithms, and the difficulty of getting the audience’s attention, became the main discussion topics. Agung shared tips on how to tell stories that are not only interesting but also able to invite the audience’s imagination. Simple stories, such as funny experiences or criticism of public facilities, can become entertaining and informative content if packaged well.

Optimizing Visuals for Digital Content

Not only that, Purnawan Setya Adi also highlighted the importance of visuals in digital content. He explained how the current digital era prioritizes visualization, both in the form of photos and videos. Petungkriyono youth are encouraged to optimize the power of this visual, with abundant natural and cultural potential as the background of the content. From photography to short videos, all can be effective media to promote Petungkriyono as a leading tourist destination.

Attractive Design: Not Just Appearance, But Message

In the session led by Muhammad Shiddiq, participants were introduced to the principles of effective visual design. Shiddiq explained that successful digital content is not only attractive, but must also have a harmonious design. Principles such as balance, unity, emphasis, and repetition are important foundations in creating visual content that can convey messages effectively. “Good design is one that can attract attention, but remains balanced and makes it easy for the audience to focus on the main message,” he explained. He also emphasized the importance of understanding the target audience, so that the content created is in accordance with their trends and preferences.

Not only theory, participants are also given the opportunity to practice the knowledge they have gained. They were divided into groups to create visual content that highlights the natural beauty of Petungkriyono. Each group presented their ideas, from a promotional video for the Curug Bajing waterfall to documentation of the flora and fauna in Curug Bajing. This experience helped the participants to be more prepared to face the digital world with real works.

Ethics in Storytelling in the Digital World

The ethical aspect was also an important topic in this training. Agung Purwandono reminded participants that in the digital world, there are norms and rules that must be obeyed, such as the ITE Law. This is important to avoid violating norms and laws that can harm oneself or others. Ethics in storytelling, according to Agung, must always be a priority, both in creating content and interacting with the audience.

Collaboration with Mojok.co also added its own color to this training. As a media platform known for its light but meaningful storytelling style, Mojok.co shared insights on how simple stories can be told in an interesting way. This inspired participants on how they could tell local Petungkriyono stories with a fresh and creative approach.

At the end of the event, which was the last day of training, participants were invited to prepare a Follow-up Action Plan (RTL) as a guide to implementing the skills they had learned. Relung Indonesia is committed to continuing to support these young people, both in technical aspects and in creating a strong digital ecosystem in Petungkriyono. This RTL is expected to be the initial foothold for them in promoting tourism, improving the local economy, and preserving biodiversity through quality digital content.

This training is a promising first step. With more mature skills, the young people of Petungkriyono are now ready to become digital ambassadors for their region. Support from Relung Indonesia and Mojok.co as strategic partners provide opportunities for them to continue to grow and develop creative, authentic, and inspiring content.

Contributor:

Shella