Narratives of natural disaster survivors in Indonesian media: The case of Tempo magazine

Abstract

Dubbed as the ‘ring of fire,’, Indonesian territories have witnessed many forms of natural disasters such as volcano eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, which had been widely reported in the mass media. While the media has reported the scale of destruction and number of casualties caused by those disasters, they have also narrated dramatic recounts of the survivors. Imbued with spectacular imagery, the media seek to appeal to the audiences emotionally and evoke sentiments of solidarity as well as humanitarian actions. Employing a textual analysis of media reports in Indonesia, particularly from the weekly news magazine Tempo, this study explores the way in which the media frame the narratives of the survivors of natural disasters (volcano eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis) across Indonesia. Although the media are expected to report events objectively, this study demonstrates the affective element in the practice of journalism on natural disasters. Therefore, this study will contribute to the growing research on the relationship between media and disasters, particularly in the context of a disaster-prone country such as Indonesia. In particular, it will contribute to the body of journalism research which looks at the role of narrating the human subject in tragic events such as natural disasters.

Storytelling, language, and the earthquake swarm of May 2018: Insights into Shimaore and Kibushi from narrative analysis

“…Media coverage of natural disasters provide a rich area for understanding how journalists (re)create history, engage in narrative, and play with affect during coverage. For example, narratives from inhabitants have been used in the Indonesian media to discuss earthquakes in ways that demonstrate biases in event coverage [Irawanto, 2018]. In addition, reflecting on distant earthquakes via narratives is a way for media to shape collective memory and reconstruct the past, as could be seen with the 1999 "921" earthquake in Taiwan [Su, 2012].…”

Aestheticizing the Pain: A Critical Analysis of Media Representation of Earthquake Victim Children in Turkey

“…However, studies show that children are often portrayed in ways that can perpetuate stereotypes and stigmatization. Children are generally depicted in news stories as the most vulnerable part of society (Irawanto, 2018, p. 49). In addition, according to Davies (2004), children are used in media in the context of passivity, entertainment, and emotionalism: They are the main story of the news but do not have an authentic voice or control over the narrative, and they are used to influence the audience to awaken feelings such as solidarity and compassion while concealing important realities.…”

“…On the other hand, children are ideal victims that can be presented in the media, and they are in line with the general image of victims in the public's mind (Höijer, 2004, p. 521). In other words, they have an emotional attractiveness to the people's gaze (Irawanto, 2018, 49–50). Overall, the use of children in news narratives brings higher ratings for commercialized media, especially with the use of emotional elements rather than focusing on facts, which is very common in sensational news stories.…”

Navigating Ethics and Empathy in Disaster Photojournalism in Indonesia

“…However, unlike in Japan and Australia, Indonesian media present a distinct representation of disaster by vividly depicting the visible suffering of victims. This portrayal, focusing on moments of despair, pain, and vulnerability, is found to prioritize sensationalism over sensitivity, leading to ethical dilemmas concerning the victims' right to privacy and the exploitation of their trauma for commercial gain (Irawanto, 2018;Lampito, 2015;Arif, 2010;Noviani, 2009;Silva and Eldridge, 2020).…”