In an article writing competition for high school students throughout Aceh held by Malikussaleh University, five of the six winners were won by SMA Sukma Bangsa students from Lhokseumawe, Bireuen, and Sigli. The only winner to escape their grasp was first place. The most prestigious place went to a student from MAN Negeri 1 Lhokseumawe.
This is the result of the tradition of literacy that is consistently maintained at SMA Sukma Bangsa. Not only students but also teachers are active in the world of literacy. Producing works in the form of books, for both students and teachers, has become a routine activity. Book celebrations are regularly held at SMA Sukma Bangsa.
Similarly, writing training, both literary and journalistic, is also provided. In addition to writing news stories in basic journalism activities, SMA Sukma Bangsa students are also actively involved in organizing article and editorial writing training.
The topic of writing articles and editorials was the topic of discussion among approximately 40 students from Sukma Bangsa High School, Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The participants sat on the clean and comfortable floor of the library. This space is often used for activities when visiting teachers are present.
That day, Sukma Bangsa High School invited Ayi Jufridar, a writer and journalist in Aceh who is now a member of the Lhokseumawe City Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu). However, he didn't talk about elections and democracy, although those topics are always a mandatory topic to maximize the occasion. A two- or three-minute discussion about elections opened the topic of writing articles and editorials.
"When I was an editor at a daily newspaper in Aceh, I always wrote the editorial when there were issues about politics, democracy, and business economics," said Ayi Jufridar.
According to him, although written by senior editors or sometimes by the editor-in-chief, editorials are the result of the collective thinking of many people, including journalists in the field.
"So, these important points are summarized into an editorial. This is different from an article, which represents the author's personality. An editorial represents the respective media outlet," explained Ayi Jufridar.
He explained that, in terms of purpose alone, articles and editorials are different. Articles are written personally to provide information, analysis, arguments, and education. Editorials, on the other hand, convey the media's stance on a particular issue. The writing style is also slightly different. "Articles are more informative and argumentative. Editorials are more persuasive," he explained.
Despite the fasting month of Ramadan 1447 H, the participants enthusiastically participated and engaged in discussion. Four students, Cut Nayla Syahrani, Liwaul Rahmi Ay-Thaqi, Irfan Rahim Nashuha, and Cut Dara Rizka Akhira, took turns asking questions and offering their opinions.
They questioned why an editorial column is necessary in a media outlet and discussed several issues worthy of editorial coverage, one of which was the case of food poisoning from the free nutritious meal program (MBG) in Bireuen Regency.
The supervising teacher, Suci Aulia Zahman, required students to write an editorial as an assignment. "But it's a group assignment, so they can discuss the issues raised and the data needed," she said.
So, despite the ease of writing using various artificial intelligences, students ultimately still have to think and be creative.[]
