Rizky Harisnanda, from UMJ to CNN Indonesia

Rizky Harisnanda in the Good Morning Indonesia program on CNN Indonesia broadcast every day at 07.30 WIB.

Maybe currently there are still people who think that if you want to have a successful career you must have certain privileges . Starting from providing capital from parents, carrying a big name from parents, or at least having "insider" contacts.

None of that applies to Rizky Harisnanda, an alumnus of the Communication Studies Program , Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta (FISIP UMJ) who is currently having a successful career as a News Anchor for CNN Indonesia. Even though he doesn't have any of those privileges .

Rizky never imagined he could have a career in journalism as a news anchor. But he realized that he was very interested in the field of public speaking . Rizky Harisnanda now appears on the CNN Indonesia television screen every day through the Good Morning program which airs every day at 07.30 WIB.

When met after the FISIP UMJ Communication Science Study Program event, Tuesday (02/10/2023), the alumnus who started his education at UMJ in 2009 told his life story.

Rizky realized that his parents could not pay for his studies and also did not have a wide network to help him pursue a career later. This sparked Rizky's determination that he had to try more and harder than other people.
He admitted that he had gone through busy times and had no holidays because he had to study while working and also improve his skills by taking English lessons. He financed all this himself with his salary which was only equivalent to the UMR.

“After graduating from high school, I was unemployed for a year. Being at the lowest point made me think and reflect on myself, not just remain silent. After getting a job, I was determined to enroll in college. "I chose a major that I thought was easy and to have fun, even though after I went through college it turned out it wasn't that easy," said Rizky.

Feeling that studying alone was not enough, Rizky felt he needed to improve his language skills by taking private English lessons. Even though English was a subject that he was quite afraid of in middle school and high school.

“I am passionate about learning. When I'm studying or taking English lessons, I always sit in the front seat. Very enthusiastic," he recalled.

It wasn't enough just to study theory, in 2011 Rizky decided to take part in the prestigious Abang None Jakarta event. The aim is to gain experience and increase value for a career. Initially, this West Sumatran man experienced a crisis of confidence when taking part in this event. He felt that his background was not as brilliant as other Abang None contestants who came from well-known universities at home and abroad. However, he broke through that feeling of inferiority and finally advanced to the final round.

According to Rizky, Rizky's qualification for the final round was a fate from Allah SWT, because previously he had been declared not to have passed.

Rizky Harisnanda as a contestant on Abang None 2011.

"But a few days before the final, I was contacted by the organizers, told that I had qualified as a finalist because one contestant had withdrawn. "That's extraordinary luck and I believe Allah doesn't give that luck to people He doesn't want," said Rizky with a shining face.

The Abang None event was the gateway to Rizky's career journey. Armed with the knowledge he gained during Abang None, Rizky continued to hone his public speaking skills until he was finally able to lead events by becoming master of ceremonies on the Abang None program, as well as a reporter and news anchor on national media and television stations.

"If you didn't join Abang None before, maybe now you don't know what you want to be, because your career opens up from there (Abang None). From there, I started to accumulate flying hours and started to dare to advertise outside of the Abang None event . "Then networking became wider, so more work came in," he said.

Experience is the best teacher. Rizky used his bitter experience when he started his career as evaluation material and encouragement to study harder. The experience of being called an MC who was not fun enough sparked Rizky's enthusiasm to continue learning to be a professional MC by paying attention to other MCs.

“In principle, I know I have limitations but don't let that get in the way. As much as possible I try and learn by doing . He once complained that the MC was bad, he said. He has also been an MC for 3 to 4 day events. The first day of evaluation, he said, it was not very busy . I dropped but ended up learning from other MCs. "The way to learn was when there was an event at the JCC, I went around to each booth just to pay attention to the other MCs," concluded the man who was born on April 27 1990.

Apart from being an MC, Rizky tried his luck in other ways by hosting a traveling program on Kompas TV, news anchor on TVRI DKI Jakarta, Jawapostv, and now on CNN Indonesia. Career from one media to another adds to Rizky's experience and sharpness as a journalist.

Rizky expressed his pride as an alumni of Ilkom FISIP UMJ. According to him, UMJ provides very good education because it is based on Islamic religious values.

"The world of communication is dar der dor , close to things 'that way', there is one advantage that is differentiating, namely the values ​​of Al Islam and Muhammadiyah. "That's what becomes a shield during your career," he said.

Rizky Harisnanda while broadcasting on television programs on Jawapostv and CNN Indonesia

 

He also did not hesitate to offer to contribute to UMJ as a thank you for being part of his career journey.

"What can I do to help? I want to help. UMJ has become a part of my career journey. The bachelor's degree that I use for my career is from UMJ. Very proud of the increasingly advanced campus. This building didn't exist before. I studied in the front building near the entrance gate (Perintis Building). "Snacks and meals are usually at Umi's stall," he recalled while feeling amazed and nostalgic for his college days.

Apart from memories of snacks at the Umi stall which is still there near the Faculty of Islamic Religion (FAI) building, Rizky also remembers the kindness of the FISIP Administrative staff who has now become the Head of TU FISIP. Elangsari Wulandari or familiarly known as Wulan, who used to contact Rizky when he couldn't finish his thesis.

"There was a moment when I disappeared from campus and was contacted by Mbak Wulan to return to college. Don't want to waste it, finally do it and finish. "Finally, I finished my thesis with the same supervisor, Mr. Sofiandi, until the trial and graduation," he said.

Rizky, who previously felt jealous because he couldn't be like his peers who could enjoy the results of his work by going on holiday or buying the latest cell phone, has now enjoyed at least the results of the process he went through several years ago.

“For younger students who are currently attending college funded by their parents, you are lucky. Enjoy it, learn as best you can. Join organizations, activities and make the most of campus. Also look for opportunities outside campus to have other insights . Maybe insight from outside can be brought to campus so that it further enriches the campus. Never be satisfied, whatever you can do to add value and experience, do it. "When you finish from campus, it will feel good to have a lot of experience."

Closing the meeting that afternoon, Rizky said that he was proud to be a journalist.

“I am proud to be a journalist. It's great to be able to voice the voices of many people through a platform. It's a useful job for many people. Work is not just for money but there is worship in it. Of course this can be done if we have a good personality based on norms, religion and morals."

WEB UMJ