The Constitutional Court received the award at the event PR Media Award 2012 organized by the Public Relations Coordinating Board (Bakohumas) government, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on 6-7 November 2012.

In such event, the Constitutional Court page (www.mahkamahkonstitusi.go.id) was ranked second of 98 participants from ministries, agencies, and state universities are assessed. The award was given based on the assessment, the disclosure of information, public relations perspective, as well as technical presentation and display. Assessment carried out by the jury of public relations practitioners and information technology, namely Teguh Puradisastra, Gunawan Arif, Henny S. Widyaningsih, and Andrey Andoko.

According to Henny, who is also the commissioner of jurors Central Information Commission, the page is a picture of an agency of the institution itself. As stipulated by the Freedom of Information Act, each public agency shall provide public information in accordance with the criteria and requirements prescribed by the Act. Public Relations and Media Award is an award given to the ministries or agencies that meet or exceed standards.

Not Just Funnel

Meanwhile, Minister Tifatul Sembiring, at the opening event (6/11) said, the role of public relations is very important in conveying positive messages to audiences.

According to Tifatul, freedom of the media that has been so widely is also a major challenge for the world of public relations. The formation of public opinion by the media will greatly affect the understanding of the community. This is where the role of the public relations role of government should be to provide information in a proportional balance.

However, it does not mean that the mass media is to be opposition party institutions. Precisely publicist must be able to embrace the media to be a partner in order to educate the public.

Unfortunately, the vital role of public relations has not been fully recognized by policy makers in the organization, especially government organizations. PR is still understood as mere mouthpieces of information agencies. PR has not been used as the primary medium for communicating with the public. Therefore, the role of leadership is very important within a strategy facilitating relations (PR strategy).

“Public Relations (PR) are among the public institutions and the public itself. Negative public opinion is due to the negative performance of public relations," said Tifatul.

Media Relations Award event in 2012 was the seventh time the concert organized by Bakohumas. Each year the organization, the Constitutional Court has always managed to get the award in several different categories. (Ardli Nuryadi/Yazid.tr)