The Discipline of Verification in a News Production Process (News Coverage of the Polemic of the Malaysian National Anthem in Indonesian Mass Media)

Abstract

Indonesia and Malaysia are neighbouring countries in the Southeast Asian region. The geographical position is the opposite of that in Southeast Asia. However, the number of similarities between the two countries does not necessarily make the relations between the two harmonious. After the 2000s, Indonesia-Malaysia relations often underwent ups and downs. The problem of territorial disputes, cultural claims, migrant workers, as well as the fog due to forest and land fires illustrates the ups and downs of the relations between them. The mass media that have often reported on Indonesia-Malaysia relations included institutions which influenced the perception of the society on Indonesia-Malaysia relations. How the society gives meaning to the relation between the two countries will depend on the integrity of the facts told by the media. This paper attempts to discuss how the media carry out the process of verifying facts in reporting the polemic of the Malaysian national anthem and the song Terang Boelan. This study employed a qualitative analysis using visual social semiotics. The findings of this research show that the Indonesian mass media, in this case, Metro TV and Kompas.Com, still have to put harder attempt to fully present what has happened regarding the polemic between the two songs.

News Between Malaysia And Indonesia: Editorial Interest In Conflict Of Interest

“…Past studies on bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia showed that the media and media staff play important roles in mediating the conflict between the two countries. Scattered research on related issue examined media content, roles, framing and news constructions on specific issues such as Ambalat, cultural heritage (batik) and migrant labours (Adnan & Amri, 2016;Bharata & Nik Norma, 2019;Fauziah et al, 2018;Irwansyah, 2017;Mulharnetti, 2015;Rusdi et al, 2013;Wijayani et al, 2012;Wan Hassan et al, 2017) but lack of study on media staff newsroom routine. Media is perceived as powerful medium used by journalists and editors to either alleviate or reduce the rage among fellow nations by highlighting certain story angles repeatedly while excluding others.…”

“…News editor is a powerful force in the newsroom but indistinct figure in academic study. Editors direct the journalists and assess their work; they manage the converged (or otherwise) newsroom; and they decide just how much influence the audience will have -indicating that there is possibility of conflicting interests occur in their everyday routine (Adnan & Amri, 2016;Bharata & Nik Norma, 2019;Skjerdal, 2013;Selo et al, 2015;Wan Hassan et al, 2017). Conflict of interests arise when "contradictory goals and actions of different social subjects lead to a position where the conflict is impossible to avoid" (Soloski, 1989, pp.…”