Jakarta, INTI - Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria emphasized that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed the global journalism landscape and poses serious challenges for journalists in the digital transformation era.
According to Deputy Minister Nezar, after the media industry migrated from traditional to digital platforms, a new wave of disruption emerged due to the dominance of digital platforms and algorithm-based technologies.
News distribution is no longer entirely in the hands of editorial teams but is now controlled by platforms powered by AI.
The Zero Click Phenomenon
“We are facing the zero click phenomenon, where the public can simply read news summaries generated by AI without visiting the original sources. This directly affects media traffic and the sustainability of the press industry,” Deputy Minister Nezar said at the 2026 Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Retreat in Rumpin, Bogor Regency, on Friday, January 30, 2026.
He cited global research from the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford showing a decline in media professionals’ optimism about the future of journalism.
Digital media traffic has dropped by more than 40 percent as consumption of information through AI platforms and services increases.
Ensuring Media Sustainability and Fair Collaboration
Deputy Minister Nezar also highlighted the sustainability challenges faced by media amid the use of journalistic content by technology companies.
According to him, copyright protection and the development of fair collaboration models between digital platforms and media are strategic issues that must be addressed collectively.
As a concrete step, the Ministry of Communication and Digital has prepared various policies and programs, including the issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024 on the Responsibility of Digital Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism (Publisher Rights) to support media sustainability amid the use of journalistic content by technology companies.
In addition, the government is also drafting a National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap that will serve as a guideline for the development and utilization of AI in Indonesia.
These efforts are expected to encourage mutually beneficial cooperation between media and digital platforms to ensure the future of quality journalism.
Conclusion
The rise of AI and the zero click phenomenon presents significant challenges for journalism, but through policy initiatives, copyright protection, and fair collaboration models, Indonesia aims to safeguard media sustainability and promote a future of high-quality, equitable journalism.
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