Students of the Sociology and Anthropology Education Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, achieved a remarkable accomplishment at the national Karni Ilyas Award 2026 – Indonesian Student Visual Journalism Competition, organized by tvOne on Saturday, 14 February 2026. The UNNES team secured First Place with their work entitled “Etnopedagogi Ibu Bumi: Suara Sedulur Sikep” (Ethnopedagogy of Mother Earth: The Voice of Sedulur Sikep).
The team outperformed finalists from several other universities, with the results as follows:
- First Place: Etnopedagogi Ibu Bumi: Suara Sedulur Sikep – Kendeng Lestari, Universitas Negeri Semarang.
- Second Place: Lelah – Production, Universitas Mercu Buana.
- Third Place: Beyond the Screen: Reality of Indonesia’s Film Industry – RRR Production, Universitas Bina Nusantara.
- First Runner-Up: Kiamat Media Cetak: “Eksistensi Koran di Tengah Transisi Media” – A2G, Universitas Islam Bandung.
- Second Runner-Up: Di Balik Kenikmatan Tembakau – MJ Production, Universitas Budi Luhur.
- Favorite Vertical Video: Beyond the Screen: Reality of Indonesia’s Film Industry – RRR Production, Universitas Bina Nusantara.
The award-winning piece highlights the local wisdom of the Sedulur Sikep community in maintaining harmony between humans and nature through an ethnopedagogical approach. The winning team, named Kendeng Lestari, consisted of Muhammad Saputra Agung Pratama (NIM 3401422048), Nadia (NIM 3401422005), Lingga Yudistira Raka Persada (NIM 3401420081), and Natsuwa Cindi Aulia (NIM 3401421048), under the intensive supervision of Harto Wicaksono, S.Pd., M.A.
The awards were presented at a ceremony attended by Meutya Hafid, Minister of Communication and Digital of the Republic of Indonesia; Rhenald Kasali, Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Universitas Indonesia and Founder of Rumah Perubahan; and Karni Ilyas, the initiator of the event.
This achievement not only demonstrates the competence of UNNES students in visual journalism, but also underscores their academic contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work aligns with Goal 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening education rooted in local wisdom, and Goal 15 (Life on Land) through its message of environmental preservation and sustainability. Furthermore, the collaborative spirit reflected in the production process embodies Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The supervising lecturer, Harto Wicaksono, expressed his appreciation for the team’s hard work and dedication in transforming cultural and environmental issues into an inspiring and impactful journalistic work. He hopes that this achievement will motivate other students to continue producing meaningful narratives that promote sustainability.
This accomplishment affirms that UNNES students not only excel academically, but are also capable of creating works that respond to global challenges while amplifying the voices of local communities on a national stage.
