CTRL+J

Jakarta, Indonesia

July 22-24, 2025

Location

Le Meridien Jakarta

CONTACT

CTRL+J APAC marked the second in a series of regional and international conversations to foster shared learning, innovation and collective agendas to sustain quality journalism in the era of AI and emerging technologies.

Indonesia’s booming technology industry and recent regulatory efforts to support publisher rights on digital platforms provides a timely backdrop to launch this regional dialogue. The event gathered publishers, regulators, technologists, and civil society actors to examine pathways for strengthening journalism in the AI era and build fairer partnerships between media and technology players.

Location

Le Meridien Jakarta

This Event

Keynote Speech

‍

Keynote Speech with Nezar Patria, Vice-Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of IndonesiaNezar Patria officially opened the conference, highlighting the dual nature of AI. AI offers potential for enhanced efficiency (streamlining tasks from data analysis to content generation) and expanded reach (personalizing content delivery to targeted audiences) and can unlock new forms of storytelling. But he also cautioned that AI can accelerate the creation and spread of false or misleading information.

Panel 1: Shaping the Global Debate: From Johannesburg, São Paulo, to Jakarta

‍

Michael Markovitz, Director, GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank, South Africa
‍
Maia Fortes, Executive Director, Associação de Jornalismo Digital (AJOR), Brazil
‍
Wahyu Dhyatmika, Chairperson of Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI), Indonesia
‍
Moderated by Irene Jay Liu, Director, AI, Emerging Tech and Regulation at IFPIM

Reflections on the evolving global debate on journalism and tech since the first conference in South Africa in 2023 and CTRL+J Latam in March 2025. What are the challenges and opportunities to shape the conversation and drive solutions within APAC?

Panel 2: Envisioning the Future of News Content and Storytelling in the Era of AI

‍

Jaemark Tordecilla, Independent Media Advisor
‍
Peerapon Anutarasoat, Director, Thai News Agency’s Sure and Share Centre
‍
‍Nenden Arum, Executive Director, SAFEnet
‍
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Data Editor, Pulitzer Center
‍
Moderated by Devi Asmarani, Co-founder and Chief Editor, Magdalene.co

What are the roles of media and journalists or news creators when GenAI completely changes the way information and content is produced and distributed?

Panel 3: Envisioning the Future of Media and Tech in the Era of AI in Asia–Pacific

‍

Premesh Chandran, Co founder of Malaysiakini & Awatar Innovations
‍
Shuwei Fang, Joan Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media
‍
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Data Editor, Pulitzer Center
‍
Shita Laksmi, Digital Governance Consultant in Indonesia
‍
Moderated by Prodita Sabarini, CEO, The Conversation Indonesia

How will the media use tech and AI in Asia Pacific? What are the specific trends of the audience, media and tech in this region?

Panel 4: Envisioning the Future of Media in the Era of AI and Tech: An Overview

‍

Shuwei Fang, Joan Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media
‍
Arul Prakkash Sinnappan, Expert on Video and Technology for Human Rights
‍
Jaemark Tordecilla, Independent Media Advisor
‍
Andy Budiman, CEO, KG Media
‍
Moderated by Citra Prastuti, Chief Editor, KBR Media

What are the potential scenarios for the future of media in the era of AI? How will users find and consume news and how will news producers adapt?

Panel 5: Preparing the Future: The State of Play in APAC

‍

Elina Noor, Senior Fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Irendra Radjawali, Associate Researcher, CSEAS Kyoto University

Jacque Manabat, Multimedia Journalist, The Philippines

Moderated by Sita Dewi, Co-Founder of Project Multatuli

What is the direction of travel for the relationship between tech and media in the region given the evolving geopolitical context and changing user behaviors? How are users in the region driving changes in how information is produced, distributed, and consumed? What are the challenges and opportunities for producers of content in the region? How are governments adapting to these changes and what policy frameworks are emerging related to journalism and digital platforms?

Panel 6: Preparing the Future: Compensation Strategies

‍

Paula Fray, Panel Member, South African Competition Commission's Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry

Indri D. Saptaningrum, Vice Chair, Indonesia Publishers Rights Committee

Nelson Yap, Co-Chair, Public Interest Publishers Alliance (PIPA), Australia

Moderated by Evi Mariani, Co-founder and Executive Director, Project Multatuli

What can we learn from mechanisms to remunerate journalistic content on tech platforms? What are the current and emerging policy frameworks and principles for fair compensation of journalistic content by digital platforms and AI companies, especially considering the specific dynamics and power balances within the APAC digital ecosystem?

Panel 7: Amplifying Diverse Voices and Addressing the Language Barrier in AI

‍

Dr. Leslie Teo, Senior Director of AI Products, AI Singapore

Ayu Purwarianti, Researcher of the AI Center, Bandung Institute of Technology

Shalini Joshi, Program Director for Training and Network, MEEDAN

Endang Aminuddin Azis, Professor of Linguistics, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Moderated by Elina Noor, Senior Fellow, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

What are the challenges and opportunities for building LLM s that are catered to “low resource” languages and ensuring linguistic diversity in AI models? What are people doing to prevent bias in these models? How do publishers have a say in how LLMs are developed and maintained?

Fireside Chat: Building Homegrown Tech and Reshaping the Relationship between Publishers and Tech

‍

Henky Prihatna, Head of Partnership, GoTo Group

Interviewed by Citra Prastuti, Chief Editor, KBR Media

Lightning Talks: How Media & Tech in APAC are Adapting to the Era of AI

‍

Eshwaren Manoharen, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Awatar Malaysia

‍Arkka Dhiratara, CEO, HukumOnline.com

Sim Leoi Leoi, Deputy Executive Editor, Star Media Malaysia

Omar Abdillah, Leader of Product and Data Division, Kompas Gramedia Group

Francis Ochoa, Sports Editor, The Philippine Daily Inquirer

Moderated by Citra Prastuti, Chief Editor, KBR Media

Panel 8: Preparing for the Future: Publishers’ Preparedness & Engagement Strategy in the Era of AI

‍‍

Sergio Spagnuolo, Co-founder and Executive Director, Nucleo Jornalismo, Brazil
‍
Matt Prewitt, President, RadicalxChange Foundation, US
‍
Moderated by Ika Idris, Associate Professor at Public Policy & Management Program, Monash University Jakarta

What solutions are helping to prepare for the future digital ecosystem and ensure that quality information prevails?

Conference Program

At a Glance

Day 1 July 22

Registration and networking starts at 08:30
Welcome to CTRL+J APAC & Opening Remarks
Keynote Speech: Nezar Patria, Deputy Minister of Digital and Communication, Republic of Indonesia
Panel 1: Shaping the Global Debate: From Johannesburg, São Paulo, to Jakarta
Brief Presentation of Feasibility Study on Indonesian Journalism Fund and ceremonial handover to the Press Council
Panel 2: Envisioning the Future of News Content and Storytelling in the Era of AI
Panel 3: Envisioning the Future of Media and Tech in the Era of AI in Asia Pacific
Panel 4: Envisioning the Future of Media in the Era of AI and Tech: An Overview

Day 2 July 23

Arrival and networking starts at 08:30
Panel 5: Preparing the Future: The State of Play in APAC
Panel 6: Preparing the Future: Compensation Strategies
Panel 7: Preparing the Future: Amplifying Diverse Voices and Addressing the Language Barrier in AI
Fireside chat: Building Homegrown Tech and Reshaping the Relationship between Publishers and Tech
Lightning Talks: How Media & Tech in APAC are Adapting to the Era of AI
Panel 8: Preparing for the Future: Publishers’ Preparedness and Engagement Strategy in the Era of AI

Day 3 July 24 (off the record)

Arrival and networking starts at 08:30
Panel 9: What the Future Looks Like from Tech Companies and Platforms’ Perspectives
Regional Workshops
Closing Ceremony