To Strengthen Legal Advocacy Coordination at the Local Level, Safe Journalism and the East Java Journalists Association (KAJ) Hold Paralegal Training for Journalists

To Strengthen Legal Advocacy Coordination at the Local Level, Safe Journalism and the East Java Journalists Association (KAJ) Hold a Paralegal Training Session for Journalists

"Violence against journalists is on the rise. It is taking on increasingly diverse forms and growing in severity. Journalists must be able to cope with this." – Miftah Faridl (East Java Journalists Association)

Mojokerto, September 21, 2025

Safe Journalism – The Tifa Foundation, in collaboration with the East Java Journalists’ Advocacy Committee (KAJ), held a Paralegal Training for Journalists in Pacet, Mojokerto, on September 19–21, 2025. The event was attended by 25 participants from several AJI chapters in East Java (AJI Surabaya, Kediri, Jember, Bojonegoro, and Malang) law clerks, and student press representatives.

Over the course of the three-day training, participants received instruction on legal fundamentals, advocacy, labor standards, and holistic safety for journalists. Through presentations, case studies, and advocacy simulations, participants learned to serve as paralegals—the frontline support for journalists who are victims of violence and labor disputes.

One of the key outcomes of this event was an agreement to establish atwo-chamber structure for KAJ—litigation and non-litigation—as a step toward strengthening coordination of legal advocacy at the regional level. Participants also committed to expanding cooperation networks among city-level AJI chapters and legal aid organizations so that advocacy for journalists in East Java can be more integrated and responsive.

This training is part of the Safe Journalism Program’s commitment to creating a safe ecosystem for journalists by strengthening legal protections and ensuring their safety through a holistic approach that integrates legal, digital, and physical aspects into advocacy efforts for press freedom.

This training program is an initiative of the Safe Journalism Consortium. It is hoped that this initiative will strengthen journalists’ resilience in the face of challenges to press freedom.

Thank you to all those who participated and collaborated: Tifa Foundation, KontraS Surabaya, AJI Surabaya, AJI Malang, AJI Kediri, AJI Jember, AJI Bojonegoro, LBH Lentera, PPMI DK Surabaya and Madura, as well as all participants and facilitators.