The (Re)constructing Radio Broadcaster’s Professional Competence in Indonesia’s Media Convergence Era

Purpose: The phenomenon of media convergence has reshaped the role of radio broadcasters. This study focuses on Suara Surabaya FM and Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) in Surabaya, examining how both commercial and public broadcasting institutions are adapting to digital transformation. Radio broadcasters were chosen as research subjects because they serve as frontline communicators, representing human adaptation in sustaining broadcasting relevance within a convergent media environment. The aim is to build a theoretical framework for understanding how professional competence evolves through adaptation, multitasking, and digital integration in convergent media practice. Methods: This study used a qualitative grounded theory approach and involving 19 purposively selected informants. These comprised 13 experienced broadcasters (at least 10 years) directly adapting to media convergence, and 6 validation informants for data triangulation: a new media manager, a human resources manager, and a CEO. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: The study reveals that broadcasters must reconstruct their competencies by mastering digital skills, fostering creativity and innovation, and maintaining professionalism. These skills are driven not solely by individual agency but shaped through interactions between personal capacity and organizational structures, ensuring radio’s relevance amid technological shifts. Originality: The originality of this study lies in its attempt to link media convergence with the reconstruction of professional competence through the concept of boundary negotiation, thereby providing a theoretical explanation of how technological and organizational changes transform the nature of broadcaster professionalism.