Critical Discourse Analysis on The 2019 Presidential Election Discourse Spread on Facebook

Abstract

This research was written based on the hot atmosphere of the 2019 Presidential Election which has triggered the emergence of pros and cons discourses toward each pair of candidates for president and vice president. These discourses were written in a language that does not follow journalistic ethical standards, therefore, it is assumed to be vulnerable to triggering conflict. The purpose of this study was to explain the profile of some news articles about the 2019 presidential election on Situasinews.com and Seword.com from September 23, 2018 until 25 April 2019 which could trigger conflict; explain the representation of some news related to the presidential election in Situasinews.com and Seword.com from September 23 until April 25. This research used qualitative approach by using Van Dijk critical discourse analysis method. This research found that the writings related to the presidential election spreadon Facebook that was connected to Situasinews.com and Seword.com websites did not meet journalistic ethics and those writings usedsarcasm and tendentious languages that it can trigger conflicts between presidential supporters.