Participants of Gov’t Translators Training Visit National News Agency Antara, UN Information Center

Participants of First Level Functional Translator Education and Training Class VIII of 2019 visit National News Agency Institute Antara, Tuesday (9/4). (Photo by: Jay/PR)

Cabinet Secretariat organized an excursion for participants of First Level Functional Translator Education and Training Class VIII of 2019 to the National News Agency Institute Antara and the United Nations Information Center (UNIC), Jakarta, Tuesday (9/4).

Head of Translation Division of Office of the Assistant to the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents and Translation, Yuyu Mulyani who kicked off the event said that Cabinet Secretariat, as the fostering institution for Indonesian Functional Translator Officers, organized the excursion which is part of the translator and training program to improve the competency of participants.

During the visit to Antara, Antara News Director Akhmad Munir told the participants about the history of the News Agency. “Antara was founded by Indonesian former foreign minister Adam Malik, Soamanang, A. M. Sipahoetar, and Pandoe Kartawigoena on 13 December 1937 upon the values of national or the people’s struggle journalism,” he said.

As a National News Agency, Antara joined a world news agency, namely Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in which Indonesia was elected as the President within a period of 2010 to 2013. Currently, approximately 250 journalists spreading in each regency / city around Indonesia join Antara.

Also on the same occasion, Antara Editor-in-Chief for International Desk, Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani Wirdjodijojo, shared her experiences as a journalist at the International Desk that makes news in English. “Antara does not have a translator nor does translation work, because it retells existing news to convey messages to the readers,” she said adding that translators should possess writing skills that allow them to bring new colors to their translations.

The excursion to the News Agency is concluded with visit to newsroom for television and online newspaper.

Afterwards, the participants headed to the UNIC to carry on the excursion. Upon the arrival, they were welcomed by Francyne Harrigan, Director of UNIC Jakarta and Iravaty S. Argarini, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Interpreter.

In her remarks, Francyne asserted that the UNIC Jakarta is a representative of Department of Global Communication that was founded to bridge the United Nations and Indonesia. She also encouraged the 22 goverment translators participating in the program to always give their best in translating.

“If you face difficulties, don’t be ashamed to ask,” Francyne said at the end of her remarks. (AIS/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Muhardi/ Mia Medyana Bonaedy