Scholars from Unpad (Indonesia), Ubaya (Indonesia), and UJ (Jordania) Examine Language and Power in Indonesian Media

A new collaborative study by the Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Surabaya. and the University of Jordan has been published. The article, “Language and Power in Media as Terminological Deformation of Radicalism in Indonesia” is now available in the Journal Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences (Vol. 52, No.6). It was co-authored by Fahmy Lukman, Dadang Suganda & Reiza Dienaputra (Universitas Padjadjaran), Riki Nasrullah (Universitas Surabaya), and El-Sawi Ahmed Abdel Rahim (the University of Jordan).

This linguistic study reveals how the term radicalism is being deliberately shaped by Indonesian media, painting it as a dangerous and negative force. The research, which scrutinizes news reports from February to December 2020, argues that media language is not neutral but is intentionally constructed to serve the interests of those in power.

Using Michel Foucault’s theory of language and power, the study examines how mass media and politics in Indonesia are interconnected. The findings show that media outlets consistently portray radicalism as intolerant and a threat to national unity. This one-sided discourse suggests that the media acts as a partner to the dominant power structure, helping to perpetuate its ideology.

According to the study, this constant and negative portrayal has caused a significant change in the meaning of the word radicalism. By consistently associating it with terms like dangerous and intolerant, the media has essentially deformed the word’s original meaning. The research concludes that this practice leads to a very one-dimensional understanding of the term, serving to maintain a specific political narrative.

This research from Unpad, Ubaya, and UJ, provides a critical look at the role of Indonesian media in shaping public opinion. It shows how the media, instead of providing a neutral platform for discussion, actively participates in building a discourse that supports the existing power structure. This study highlights the crucial relationship between language, power, and the media in contemporary Indonesia.

Ahmad Ilham Danial