DEPOK,
Prof. Muhammad Alwi Dahlan, Ph.D was the first Indonesian to earn the title “Doctor of Communication Science.” He received this doctorate from the University of Illinois, United States in 1967. At that time, Prof. Muhammad Alwi, Ph.D had the opportunity to study with the founding father of communication science whose name is familiar in this field of study, Wilbur Schramm. He also studied with friends who also became famous scientists in the field of communication such as Steven Chaffee, William Paisley, and Godwin Chou.
The book discussion “Alwi Dahlan 90+ Human Heritage of Indonesian Communication” held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, was attended by his daughter, alumni / students of Prof. Alwi Dahlan in the past, as well as active students of the Department of Communication Science (S1, S2, and S3), Dean of FISIP UI, leaders and lecturers of Communication Science UI. The book discussion featured a number of speakers who had studied with Prof. Alwi Dahlan, including in Session 1, Dr. Sunarto (Diponegoro University) and Dr. Irwansyah (University of Indonesia), then in Session 2, Prof. Dr. Rajab Ritonga (Gunadarma University) and Prof. Dr. Eni Maryani (Padjadjaran University). Session 1 was moderated by Dr. Ressi Dwiana (University of Indonesia) and Session 2 was moderated by Dr. Irwa Rochimah (Al Azhar University Indonesia).
Prof. Alwi Dahlan’s book has the substance of professional and personal legacies. His professional legacy is his work in the world of journalism and the development of Indonesian media in general, and he was once the Minister of Information in the era of President Soeharto. Meanwhile, his personal legacy is as a father, teacher, and friend, who is firm, unpretentious, critical, supportive, and perfectionist. According to Dr. Sunarto, he remembers when he was a student under Prof. Alwi Dahlan, he was very supportive when guiding him. At the time, Prof. Alwi Dahlan held various social roles such as journalist, researcher, lecturer, writer, and state official.
Each speaker from the book discussion event shared their perspectives on the research, paradigms, traditions, and learning contexts they experienced with Prof. Alwi Dahlan. In Session 1, it was recounted that “Prof. Alwi was the driving force/blocomotive of the Department of Communication in Indonesia which was previously the Department of Publicistics.” In the same session, Dr. Irwansyah discussed the explication of Communication Science in Indonesia, the communication perspective of Muhammad Alwi Dahlan, and his experience when he used to study and be mentored by Prof. Alwi Dahlan at the University of Indonesia.
In Session 2, Prof. Dr. Rajab Ritonga, M.Si discussed Prof. Alwi Dahlan’s legacy as a driving force for the development of Communication Science in Indonesia, bringing the field of study to cover broader communication issues and following global trends, while previously the scope only focused on publicist studies. Later in the session, Dr. Eni Maryani discussed various memories of Prof. Alwi Dahlan and explained her experiences, namely watching the films “Tiga Dara” and “Jendral Kancil” whose scenarios were written by Prof. Alwi himself. Dr. Eni also shared her memories of going through an interview for UI doctoral student candidates. She shared how the interview at that time was quite tense because she and the examiners had different perspectives regarding the research design for the Doctor of Communication Science dissertation. Dr. Eni stated how she still remembers the experience to this day, the interview was a very memorable experience. Dr. Eni Maryani closed her presentation by highlighting the importance of perspectives such as Prof. Alwi Dahlan’s thoughts in Communication Science.
Each session always ended with a warm response and boisterous applause from the book discussion audience. The book discussion was closed with thanks from the moderator and MC, and a group photo. (FYG/ISP. Photo: TVUI documentation)
