Yogyakarta–Saturday, June 6, 2026. A delegation of Library and Information Science students from the Faculty of Communication Sciences (Fikom) at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) successfully achieved a brilliant achievement at the national level. The “Menuju Podium Tengah” team, consisting of Alya Amalia, Nuri Damayanti, and Wafa Huwaiza Alwannia, won second place in the Popular Research Competition category at the prestigious 2026 Ajisaka Communication Festival. This scientific competition, which addressed crucial issues regarding mental health from a communication perspective, was held centrally at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta.
The team’s journey to the top of the podium involved two rigorous selection stages. The initial stage began with an online submission of work files on April 16, 2026, and the Unpad team was announced as one of the Top 5 finalists on May 20, 2026. As finalists, they were invited directly to the UGM campus to participate in the final round, which included a work review session on June 5, 2026, and concluded with an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 6, 2026. In the final round, the Unpad team competed closely with four other strong finalist teams from Semarang State University and the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.
In this competition, the team carried out research entitled “BE YOU: A COMMUNICATION-BASED SOLUTION TO OVERCOME BODY IMAGE ISSUE IN THE DIGITAL ERA.” Using a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, this research explored the internal dialogue process that occurs among Gen Z after being exposed to ideal body content due to the influx of social media algorithms. The research concluded that social media acts as an external trigger, but the primary determinant of body image issues is the dynamics of intrapersonal communication (self-talk). As a solution, the team recommended an adaptive intrapersonal communication model called “BE YOU” to train adolescents to develop mature self-dialogue, enabling them to appreciate their bodies in a healthy way.
This innovative work was presented not only in a popular, analytical article but also through the creation of educational posters and videos uploaded to Instagram as a digital literacy tool for the wider community. This comprehensive idea was directly tested by a panel of expert judges consisting of Dr. Rahayu, S.I.P., M.Si., M.A. (Lecturer at the UGM Department of Communication), Engelbertus Wendratama (Researcher at PR2Media), and Angeline Freshbi Chesa Halim (Research Assistant at the UGM Faculty of Psychology). The applicable intrapersonal communication skills in the “BE YOU” model successfully made a deep impression on the examiners.
The team acknowledged this extraordinary success as the result of the collaboration and support of many parties. The team expressed its deepest gratitude to their parents, family, and friends for their continued prayers. High appreciation was also extended to Fitri Perdana, M.I.Kom. as their supervising lecturer, who took the time to discuss, practice presentations, and build the team’s confidence in facing challenges. Furthermore, the support from the leadership of the Faculty of Communication Sciences and the Library and Information Science Study Program at Unpad was a crucial pillar in ensuring the team’s accommodations ran smoothly during the competition in Yogyakarta.
For the team members, the 2026 Ajisaka Festival provided a profound experience and personal meaning. Nuri recalls the intensive mentoring and camaraderie in Yogyakarta as the greatest motivation to deliver the best innovations, despite feeling pressured by the work of the other finalists. Meanwhile, Wafa and Alya felt that all the fatigue, anxiety, and headaches during the preparation and the announcement of the winners were fully rewarded. This victory served as a valuable reminder for them to always dare to step outside their comfort zones, as the essence of a competition isn’t just about chasing trophies, but also about gaining new lessons, relationships, and insights that have a far-reaching impact on their alma mater and the surrounding community.
Authors: Alya Amalia, Nuri Damayanti, Wafa Huwaiza Alwannia
