Semarang – Another outstanding achievement has been earned by a student from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES). M. Raihanul Fikri, a 2025 student of the Geography Study Program, won Second Place in the Video Category at the Environmental Journalism Competition themed “Voices of the Indonesian Earth: Portraying Environmental Realities Through the Eyes of Citizens.” The competition was organized by Greenforest.id in collaboration with the West Java Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI West Java) as part of an initiative to encourage young people to raise awareness of environmental issues through creative journalism.
This achievement demonstrates that FISIP UNNES students not only possess strong academic competencies in geography but are also capable of applying their knowledge through creative works that critically and inspiringly highlight environmental issues. In the video category, participants were challenged to present authentic portrayals of environmental conditions using journalistic approaches that are informative, educational, and capable of fostering public awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.
M. Raihanul Fikri’s success was made possible through the guidance of Dr. Andi Irwan Benardi, S.Pd., M.Pd., who served as his academic advisor. Throughout the competition, he provided mentorship in developing the initial concept, refining the storyline, and improving the final production to ensure the work could compete successfully at the national level. This mentoring process reflects UNNES’s commitment to nurturing students in producing impactful and high-quality creative works.
Dr. Andi Irwan Benardi expressed his appreciation for the student’s dedication and perseverance throughout the competition. According to him, this achievement demonstrates that geography students are able to integrate scientific knowledge with public communication skills through digital media, enabling them to effectively communicate environmental messages to the wider community.
“This achievement demonstrates that students can become agents of change through journalistic works that raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. I hope this accomplishment will inspire other students to continue creating, innovating, and contributing to solutions for environmental challenges,” he said.
This accomplishment further strengthens the culture of academic excellence within FISIP UNNES while reflecting the faculty’s commitment to encouraging students to participate actively in national competitions as a means of developing academic competence, creativity, digital literacy, and awareness of strategic societal issues.
The achievement is also aligned with Universitas Negeri Semarang’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The environmental journalism project contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing literacy, creativity, and students’ critical thinking skills. Furthermore, its environmental focus directly supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by increasing public awareness of climate change and environmental conservation, as well as SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. Through this achievement, FISIP UNNES students have once again demonstrated that scientific and journalistic works can serve as powerful tools for educating society while advancing sustainable development.
