The 'Beyond Media' Era Begins: JMS 2026 Poised to Become the New Epicenter of the Creative Economy

Digital disruption leaves no room for local media that refuse to evolve. In response to this pressing challenge, the time has come for local media to break free from conventional journalistic confines and declare a massive transformation, integrating themselves into the regional business and creative economy ecosystems.

No longer just an annual networking event, this summit aims to completely overhaul the press industry's business model. JMS 2026 positions itself as a launchpad for local media to transform, taking on the role of a driving engine for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and creating a new ecosystem of financial independence.

Initiated by Suara.com, BeritaJatim.com, and the Local Media Community, JMS 2026 no longer dwells on lamenting the death of old business models. Instead, the event champions an aggressive vision dubbed "Beyond Media"—a blueprint demanding local media to enter the heart of regional business and social ecosystems.

Suara.com Editor-in-Chief, Suwarjono, emphasized the revolutionary direction of this year's event.

"The fourth year of the Jatim Media Summit will focus on establishing East Java as an ecosystem for the creative industry and beyond media," he asserted.

Furthermore, Suwarjono detailed what this boundary-pushing movement entails for industry players.

"This 'beyond' concept means we must dare to transcend conventional journalistic boundaries. Media should no longer simply be ad space publishers; they must directly dive into driving the grassroots economy, become active digital promotion partners, and even collaborate in business ownership and joint investments alongside local MSMEs," he added.

On the agenda, the Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, is scheduled to open the event and serve as the keynote speaker. The presence of the central government sends a strong signal for the launch of a regional economic vision that establishes digital creativity as the new backbone of East Java's economy.

The Jatim Media Summit 2026 initiates the discourse on industry transformation through the sessions "Media Ecosystem & Local Business in the 'Beyond Media' Era" and "Creative Economy Ecosystem."

These sessions will dissect the urgency of convergence between the creative sector and mass media. The primary focus is on strengthening the resilience of the local business ecosystem amidst current challenges and the rapid pace of digital disruption.

The discussion will then shift to the close synergy between local media and MSMEs aimed at reinforcing the foundation of the regional economy.

The dialogue highlights the essential shift in the media's role, which is now expected to move beyond conventional publishing into the realm of business acquisition. Through this proactive transformation, the media is projected to become a central navigator capable of driving growth in the real sector.

As a culmination, the main stage will dissect the "East Java Media Ecosystem Roadmap," designing a comprehensive governance architecture. This session brings together various cross-sectoral strategic formulations from the perspectives of regulators, legislators, and academics.