MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Crisis communication, which the government of the Republic of Indonesia has shown in confronting this COVID-19 pandemic, drew attention of academicians and institutions of the Communication Science Association of Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah Higher Education (APIK PTMA).
Their critics, then, were written in a book entitled “Krisis Komnuikasi dalam Pandemi Covid-19” (Crisis Communication in the COVID-19 Pandemic) published on 4 April 2020.
The book editor Fajar Junaedi told that a book production process did not take too long since it commence from a webinar organized by the APIK PTMA on 26 March 2020. Several members of the APIK PTMA comprising of communication specialists, institution delegates, academicians discussed the COVID-19 noticed from a perspective of communication and media.
“Afterwards, we agreed to write a book. The idea of the book-making was also proposed by a communication science teacher of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang participating in the webinar,” conveyed Fajar in a book review with Lensamu on Thursday (4/2).
Written by 43 authors, the book consists of three parts. First, it explores the significance of actualizing theories, research, and practices of communication based on what they underwent during this COVID-10 outbreak.
Second, it mentions issues of public communication performed by the government to cope with the COVID-19. A failure of the central government to manage the public communication emerged a public panic attack. Third, it talks about media and public relations in disseminating information of COVID-19 on mass media and social media.
Fajar, who is also a communication science teacher of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), informed that authors of the 228-page book are from diverse backgrounds such as lecturers at the PTMA and alumni of Communication Science working as a journalist at Harian Surya.
The journalist reporting news from Batu wrote how hard to gather reliable data of COVID-19 issues handled in the city. After the book was published, he sent it to Mayor of Batu as our constructive protest.
Besides, Fajar felt delighted that the book is valuable for others as it benefits for government of Batu to encounter the COVID-19.
“This book is a portrayal of the authors’ elegant donation. Alhamdulillah, the first printing was sold more than 300 copies, and all of the selling is entirely donated to Lazismu to overcome the COVID-19,” stated Fajar.