USU PUBLIC RELATIONS — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with PT Inalum, held the MediaMIND 2026 Outreach Program on Thursday (September 3, 2026), at the FISIP USU Multipurpose Hall. The event provided a platform for students to learn about the MediaMIND program while fostering their interest and creativity in journalism.

In his remarks, Dean of FISIP USU, Dr. Hatta Ridho, S.Sos., MSP., emphasized that Indonesia possesses abundant natural resources. Therefore, he said, the younger generation needs to develop creative thinking to manage and utilize these resources for the benefit of society and the nation.

“Our country is rich, but we are not yet rich in creativity when it comes to managing that wealth. Therefore, I hope that through this program, all of you can explore ideas about what it means for our country to be sovereign,” he said.

The Dean of FISIP further emphasized the importance of instilling nationalism and a strong sense of patriotism among the younger generation. According to him, love for the country is not demonstrated merely through symbols, but also through an understanding of Indonesia’s wealth and potential, as well as a responsibility to preserve and utilize them.

“Every young person should have a sense of nationalism and love for the country. Loving our country is not merely about symbols; it is also about understanding that our nation is rich in natural resources, energy, and fertile land. Therefore, we have a responsibility to protect and utilize these resources,” he explained.

Head of Inalum’s Communication Management Department, Utrich Farzah, explained that MediaMIND is a program designed to encourage students, journalists, and the general public to rekindle their enthusiasm for journalism. Through the program, participants are also encouraged to produce articles that introduce the various contributions of the industry to the wider community.

“We want to invite students, journalists, and the general public to become more active in rekindling the spirit of journalism,” she explained.

Furthermore, she explained the downstreaming process carried out by Inalum, beginning with bauxite being processed into alumina, which is then processed into aluminum and ultimately into various products used by the public. According to her, this process can serve as material for students to develop articles and introduce Inalum’s contributions to the wider community.

“From bauxite to alumina, from alumina to aluminum, and from aluminum to end products. The process may sound brief, but it is not that simple. It is a very interesting process to explore. We hope that students can later translate this process into articles and written works that tell the story of what we are doing for our country,” she explained.

The event is expected to provide students with an opportunity to develop their writing skills and journalistic creativity, while also encouraging them to learn more about Indonesia’s natural resource potential and share their knowledge with the public through journalistic works.