PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin expressed his appreciation to all members of the press who have contributed to development in West Java.

The appreciation was conveyed to coincide with National Press Day (HPN) 2025 at the Pakuan State Building, Bandung City, Sunday (9/2/2024).

"Happy National Press Day. Thank you to media personnel, both print, online, and radio, who have educated the public and built a more critical and integrated mindset," said Bey Machmudin.

According to Bey, the press has a crucial role in educating the public and building a critical attitude and integrity. "Of course all of this cannot be separated from the role of the press," said Bey.

Bey also appreciated the role of the media in disseminating development information. The press not only conveys good news, but also has the right to provide constructive criticism of the government.

"If there is anything that needs to be criticized, please do. Criticism is important for us in the West Java Provincial Government," he added.

Bey hopes that the press will continue to prioritize balanced reporting, not only prioritizing speed but also quality.

"We want the press to continue to maintain balanced news, not just highlighting one side. In addition to being fast, the quality must also be maintained. Fast, accurate, and balanced are the main keys for the press amidst the development of social media that demands stricter verification," he explained.

Bey also encouraged conventional media to continue to provide news that is not only ordinary and general, but also educational for the public.

"Don't just present hard news, but also news that provides education. For example, tips for driving well, the importance of throwing garbage in its place, and so on," said Bey.

The 2024 West Java Press Freedom Index (IKP) is in the 'Quite Free' category with a value of 73.41, which indicates that journalists have free space to carry out their duties.

Then, the 2024 West Java Public Information Openness Index is also at 85.22, the highest nationally, one of the indicators of which is the availability and access to information.

The higher the KIP index, the easier it is for journalists to obtain accurate information and data to present to the public.

HPN 2025 is commemorated by all press personnel in Indonesia, taking the theme 'Press Guards Food Security for National Independence'. HPN is commemorated on February 7-9 with the peak of the event centered in South Kalimantan.