Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract
Mediatization has become more relevant in exploring relations between media and politics in
post-Suharto Indonesia. However, the media’s role as the fourth estate of democracy has been
hijacked by wealthy politicians and political parties. As a result, most mainstream media have
failed to enhance public debates democratically. Based on existing mediatization literature,
politico-economy analysis, and data collected through extensive in-depth interviews and relevant
documents in the 2013-2015 period, this article theoretically aims to develop the mediatization
concept and explore the degree of mediatization of politics in contemporary Indonesia.
Keywords:
mediatization; mediation; media logic; political logic; media democratization.
Abstrak
Mediatisasi menjadi lebih relevan dalam menjelajahi relasi media dan politik di Indonesia paska Soeharto.
Namun, media sebagai pilar keempat demokrasi telah dibajak oleh elit dan partai politik oligarkis. Akibatnya,
media mainstream gagal mendorong perdebatan publik secara demokratis. Berdasarkan literatur mediatisasi
dan analisis ekonomi-politik, data wawancara mendalam serta dokumen relevan pada periode 2013-2015,
artikel ini secara teoritis bertujuan mengembangkan konsep mediatisasi dan mengekplorasi tingkat
mediatisasi politik di Indonesia kontemporer.
Kata Kunci:
mediatisasi; mediasi; logika media; logika politik; demokratisasi media.
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
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Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Volume 20, Nomor 1, Juli 2016
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
This concept gains a more contemporary promoting media freedom and more media
political perspective under the mediatization of industry since the Habibie administration in
politics term elaborated by Jespers Stromback 1998 until today`s Jokowi era.
through which the media have become This mediatization process in Indonesia
increasingly independent from politics and could be better explained by understanding
through which political actors and institutions the complex processes of media development
have become increasingly dependent on the under the Suharto era that led to present media
media. Although mediatization of politics has a performance. It can be critically said that the
multidimensional concept, it could be identified media industry is successively related to the
through four dimensions which pertain to post-authoritarian legacy in which status quo
politics and media influence (Stromback & elites who adopted the Indonesian New Order
Van Aelst, 2013). mannerism and ideas are politico-economically
The first dimension is related to the extent still in power contestations hand in hand
to which the media constitute the most important with colonization of the media sector in the
source of information and communication. pursuit of other areas of power (Robinson &
The second dimension describes the media’s Hadiz, 2004). That is why the politico-economy
independence from other social institutions, analysis of the media industry regarding the
not least political institutions. The third final period of the New Order and the present
dimension is concerned with media content media sector is essentially being explored as
and the extent to which media content is a foundation in interpreting more mediatized
governed by media logic or political logic. The politics in post-1998 democracy.
last dimension explores political actors and the Broadly speaking, mediatization is an
degree to which they are governed by media assortment of complex political communication
logic or political logic (Strömbäck & Dimitrova, processes that explore relations between
2011; Stromback, 2008). For this purpose, those politics and media by taking political and
four stages of mediatization of politics theory media logic into account in favor of democracy.
is not only relevant but also necessary to be Despite its connection, this term should be
cultivated in Indonesia. distinguished from the concept of mediation in
which politics occupies the media to spread
The Mediatization of Politics in Indonesia`s political information and communication
Post-1998 Democracy between the governors and the governed. This
Mediatization is currently a relevant theoretically relates to the elaboration of Ben
perspective in understanding the intensive Anderson (Anderson, 2006), Walter Lippman
relations between media and politics in (Lippman, 1922) and a number of scholars in
contemporary democracy (Stromback, 2008) their recent studies to politically describe media
including in the Indonesian context and contribution and intervention toward the
situation. This phenomenon will be the rational imagination of nation-state and construction
consequence of the development of information, of public opinion (Stromback, 2008).
communication and technology throughout the The stage of the mediation of politics
world and Indonesia as well. The trend has tends to justify the power of ruling elites
already started since Suharto’s era in which leading to critical criticism among left-leaning
it began to intensively develop following intellectuals by using political economy
Suharto’s resignation from his authoritarian analysis to challenge media ownership and
regime and even more so in the advent of also question the degree of media autonomy. In
democratic governances that have been this sense, mediation of politics since Suharto’s
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Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Volume 20, Nomor 1, Juli 2016
regime is truly relevant and becomes a part of Spin doctors could be maintained and played
the long mediatization processes that seek to by pollsters, journalists, retired politicians,
enhance the potential democratic role of the officials, campaign and communication
media. consultants, and academicians in today`s
Nonetheless, the first three phases of public relations democracy (Louw, 2005). The
mediatization of politics are relevant and practice of spin doctors has also been incredibly
could likely explain the political situation and appearing and operating more dynamically,
Indonesian media outlets in post-authoritarian either independent or full of vested interested,
Indonesia. Mediatization mainly discusses the during the Indonesian elections since 1999 until
contestation between political logic and media today. Therefore, these various actor shave in a
logic in the public sphere. Indeed, the first stage way contributed to promoting more advanced
of the mediatization process is approximate to democracy in Indonesia by conducting trusted
the mediation process of Indonesian politics polling, enforcing law, transparency, and
whereby media became the dominant source more participation in the electoral democracy.
of political information that could be easily However, they also created hurdles which
intervened by Suharto and his political cronies. held democracy back in the process since they
The Indonesian context had been absolutely totally manipulated polling and exploited some
mediated during the Suharto era through TVRI, candidates or being exploited themselves by
RRI, and Private television networks since those obsessive candidates who provided money
media were politically controlled by Suharto through corruption as can be seen in some
and his cronies. private television networks, Youtube videos
The second process pertains to the and many other social media outlets today.
attempt of the media in Indonesia to survive Moreover, polling organizations that
and become more professional and also more have emerged post reform, transformed
commercialized-pragmatic with the advent Indonesia’s electoral democracy to not
of the Reformasi (reform) era in 1998. As a only be more transparent and qualified in
consequence, both conservative and reformist controlling and watching any elections but
political actors improved their capacities and also to be more paradoxical in which some
skills to adapt to pragmatic media logic, but polling organizations, for example Pusat
those actors to some extent remained politically Kajian Kebijakan dan Pembangunan Strategis
subordinate under media autonomy. The period (Puskaptis), tended to manipulate quick count
from the Reformasi era in 1998 up to the advent to support Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa
of the first new democratic election in the post- in the 2014 presidential election. Whereas
authoritarian regime in 1999 also reflected Centre for Strategic and International Studies
this stage with the emergence of hundreds of (CSIS), Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI), and
media news; print media, electronic media, and Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) showed
internet-based media. different quick count results that are regarded
Since 1999-2015, the third process of to be more trustworthy since their organizations
mediatization of politics had been gradually are deemed more credible and capable.
approaching and determining political realms Some notable polling organizations in
in Indonesia in terms of media contents, political Indonesia are Resource Productivity Center
visions, and the representation of spin doctors (RPC), International Foundation for Election
in political events which was more dominant Systems (IFES), LP3ES, Litbang Harian Kompas,
elsewhere under the coming age of instant and KPP-Lab Politik UIin the 1999 election,
communication (Brewin, 2002; McNair, 2007). Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI), Pusat Pengkajian
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
Islam dan Masyarakat (PPIM), Soegeng Sarjadi Indonesia, Association of Public Opinion
Syndicated (SSS), Danareksa Research Institute Survey). However, some polling organizations
(DRI) in the 2004 election, and many more such as Indonesia Research Center (IRC), Pusat
media, think tanks, and polling organizations Kajian Kebijakan dan Pembangunan Strategis
under Perhimpunan Survei Opini Publik Indonesia (Puskaptis), Lembaga Survei Nasional (LSN),
(PERSEPI) and Asosiasi Riset Opini Publik and Jaringan Suara Indonesia (JSI) vulgarly
(AROPI) during the 2009 and 2014 elections supported the candidacy of Prabowo Subianto
such as Indonesia Research Center (IRC), Pusat and Hatta Rajasa in the 2014 election. They
Kajian Kebijakan dan Pembangunan Strategis subsequently released their quick count results
(Puskaptis), Lembaga Survei Nasional (LSN), and and it consequently made Prabowo-Hatta
Jaringan Suara Indonesia (JSI), Litbang Kompas, to confidently declare their victory by quick
Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI), Indikator Politik count in TV One1. However, PBHI sued these
Indonesia, Populi Center, Centre for Strategic pollsters for the manipulation2 and also Persepi
and International Studies (CSIS), Radio Republik strictly dismissed Puskaptis and JSI from the
Indonesia (RRI) and Saiful Mujani Research organization.3
Center (SMRC). In this third phase of mediatization of
Spin doctors used TV channels to spread politics, the spin doctors, think tanks and
their political opinions since TV is the most polling organizations were political actors
popular media and it is massively consumed and institutions and they truly created pseudo
by the Indonesian people by 91.68 in 2012 politics and fantasy realities for supporting
in order to influence large audience. Polling their candidates or any elites` interests. Those
organizations and think tanks at the time played spin actors and institutions in a number of
central roles to emphasize bandwagon and elections in post-reform Indonesia represented
underdog effects in any political events. They the interests of the elites and political parties
ultimately determined public opinion in the throughout the mainstream media owned by
mass media especially in private TV channels wealthy politicians such as Abu Rizal Bakri,
despite the presence of some investigative Surya Paloh, and Harry Tanusudibyo. They
media such as Tempo and Kompas that are speak in the mainstream media in order to set
relatively more autonomous in terms of news political agenda that would lead to meet the
reporting and opinion formation. For example, interests of political parties. However, other
during the 2014 election, TV One, along with alternative media operated by critical activists
some polling organizations such as Puskaptis, and free writers attempted to respond by
vulgarly supported Prabowo Subianto and opposing this situation and promoting media
Hatta Rajasa by covering their candidacy logic of the last mediatization and public
more and partly manipulating the quick count supremacy by using internet-based media such
results in their programs which contradicted as indoprogress.com, jakartabeat.net, and the
independent journalism principles as well latest new comers: Islambergerak.com and
as autonomous critical thinking that we can qureta.com.
frequently observe in and is commonly utilized
by Kompas and Tempo along with a number
of capable pollsters such as LSI, SMRC, CSIS, 1
This victory`s declaration by quick count can be seen here
etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbKcGdh6XVw
Polling organizations are strictly 2
This issue is accessed here https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=7lrFtsHhA68
regulated by a legitimate organization called 3
This can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/
Persepi (Perhimpunan Survei Opini Publik watch?v=9FQQKdRSAK0
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As a result, critically thinking stakeholders media are on the right track as the guardian
such as public intellectuals, CSO activists, and fourth estate of democracy that is based
student organizations responded to those philosophically on the foundation of rational,
politicizations by spreading true information critical thinking, journalism principles and
based on cover both side journalism, critical public support that promote equality, freedom,
thinking and democratic principles to keep and public interests. In the 2014 Indonesian
democracy on the right track. They achieved presidential election case, Prabowo Subianto
this by criticizing political parties, elites, and Hatta Rajasa under their allied parties and
spin doctors and the mainstream media via oligarchic elites blatantly delegitimized and
alternative internet-based media such as online manipulated media principles and power for
and social media and also by condemning their vested interests, particularly by exploiting
mainstream media for not being valid and TV One for their candidacy and campaign
completely colonized by oligarchic elites and since TV One is owned by Abu Rizal Bakri,
their political parties as well as frequently Prabowo`s supporter. Whereas, Joko Widodo
being the mouthpiece of oligarchic networks and Jusuf Kalla along with their supporters
in political events. Politically speaking, every and volunteers claimed victory and garnered
political group and party are supposed to sympathy in the 2014 campaign and election
promote their candidates, ideas, identities and from the public and the media since they were
stance within the political reality and discourse well-respected and adapted to media logic. In
in Indonesia to radicalize democracy (Laclau & the end, media truly became more political and
Mouffe, 1988; Norris, 2006), but unfortunately powerful along with other social and political
they tended to glorify racism and enhance movements by consistently promoting media
sectoral interests. Thus, each group in Indonesia logic not for the interests of others but for the
needs to radically consider their involvement sake of democracy as observed in media such
and participation in the long term political as Kompas, Tempo, and in organizations such
practice and discourse with a more rational and as Indonesian Corruption Watch, Lembaga
visionary approach to weaken and eliminate Bantuan Hukum, Transparency International
oligarchic networks and also to promote a more Indonesia, Nahdatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah,
advanced democracy in Indonesia. etc. Nevertheless, this last perspective is yet to
The last stage of mediatization has not be fully achieved in Indonesia`s contemporary
taken place in contemporary Indonesia. But it democracy.
is ideally and clearly described as the process in Regarding this apex of political
which media carry out the supremacy of media mediatization, Indonesia has not fully
logic in promoting democracy from, by, and for experienced this situation by considering the
the public. Any political actors and institutions roles of mainstream media. A number of reasons
are expected to adapt, adopt, and internalize are, firstly, Indonesia has hardly escaped from
the media logic as the foundation of democracy the post-New Order legacy such as oligarchic
and regard it as the mind of the public. nodes and networks that remain in power to
Media would ultimately supervise political pursue economic profit (Robinson & Hadiz,
dynamics through their professionalism and 2004). Secondly, Indonesia media have yet to
worthiness. fully advance into becoming democratic actors
Civil actors support this media logic so comparable to media in western developed
that the media are able to strategically and countries in conducting investigative reports,
ideally play their role. Any political actions challenging regimes and mostly being part of
that ignore media logic would be a failure since any reform and movement.
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
Finally, the last phase of mediatization is and historically lead to better mediatization
still in its infancy in the Indonesian context with analysis? The corrupt regime of the New
some conditions that ought to be fulfilled such Order could be seen as the main cause of
as the enhancement of democratic ideas and today`s colonization of oligarchic power in
practices, the commitment of political actors contemporary Indonesia. Suharto’s regime
and institutions, the improvement of media implemented the soviet style in managing
performance, and the full support from pro- information and communication resources and
democratic actors to fight against colonization in colonizing people and the political order. The
over the media. This last mediatization process soviet style refers to the practice of controlling
could realistically transform the current media under an authoritarian regime in which
Indonesian democracy. media along with any organizations are
controlled and forced to serve the authoritarian
Method and Data regime and respect its cronies (Esarey & Xiao,
This article employs a qualitative approach 2011). The colonization process happened in
to interpret and explore challenges of media the interest of the New Order wherein the
democratization in Indonesia. The qualitative media and broadcasting sectors were utilized
method is considered relevant since it can simply as state agents serving the ruling elites
interpret socio-political phenomena and historical and party.
context (Cassel & Simon, 2004; Cresswell, 2007). The colonization becomes more dynamic
The data were collected through documents in present day Indonesia as seen in political
from various media including youtube videos contestation amongst media, elites, activists,
and extensive in-depth interviews of seven civil society groups, students, and so forth
individuals namely Satrio Arismunandar as well as under cartel politics involving
(AJI-Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, Alliance of oligarchic political parties (Hikam, interview
Independent Journalists, Ex-Kompas and on September 22 nd 2015). This intensified
TransTV), Gh (An anynomous RCTI Official), colonization by involving the media`s role in
Donist (An anynomous TVRI official), Agus politics and society could be noted as the third
Sudibyo (Media Researcher, Ex-ISAI (Institut stage of mediatization of politics and society in
Studi Arus Informasi, Information Studies Institute which the media hardly played any transitional
activist and ex-Press Council member in 2010- and dialogical role in accommodating and
2013), Judhariksawan (KPI commissioner), Idi changing the apex of political logic into media
Muzayyad (KPI commissioner), A.S Hikam logic of democracy. Media were constrained
(Academician and Ex-Minister of Research by the oligarchic elites` interests in attempting
and Technology under Abdurrahman Wahid`s to construct a democratic public opinion but
Presidency). Political-economy and mediatization pseudo political reality. Even though the media
perspective will be critically used to consider have hardly enforced their logic regarding
historical and contemporary context in data freedom of speech, equality, cosmopolitanism,
analysis and literature. democratic human rights, etc. upon political
institutions and society since the arrival of
Results Reformasi in 1998 until today, the media`s
interaction and penetration over political life
Political-economy of Indonesian Media
became incredibly more important within
since the Suharto Era
social and political life under the democratic
Why does understanding the media sector
regime and the prevalence of internet and social
under the New Order politico-economically
media technology.
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
of media ownership and its implication without and television played an increasingly important
understanding of the transitional period. role in mediating aspirations for greater
Indeed, the media landscape changed after democracy in Indonesia (Kitley, 2003).”
Suharto`s downfall. Habibie consequently The mainstream media enjoyed this
came to power and promoted media reform situation. Private televisions such as RCTI, SCTV,
and democracy to open society (Ricklefs, 2001) TPI became more powerful after becoming a
amidst the contestation of status quo elites more commercialized media. Two years later,
(Robinson and Hadiz, 2004). Meanwhile, civil Trans TV, Metro TV, TV Global, TV-7, and
society organizations advocated the media LATIVI had finally emerged. This time could
(Kitley, 2003) and called for civil collaboration be noted as the era when private television
among student movement activists, NGO networks became more developed and started
activists, intellectuals, media journalists, etc. to play roles in the new democratic public
(Sudibyo, 2001). sphere. In the meantime, the performance
In the middle of elites` contestation and of TVRI in the Post-New Order period as a
criticism, Habibie promoted Press Law No. potential public-oriented media has been
40/1999. As a result, the media dramatically left behind by the other private-commercial
transformed into a double-edged sword of networks in terms of attracting the public. CSOs
market-oriented (Sudibyo, 2009) and public- in the media and broadcasting sector hoped
oriented media in Indonesia`s Post-1998 period that TVRI would become a more powerful
(Nugroho et al, 2012). This regulation not only and independent broadcaster promoting
augmented media freedom and functional democratic debate and public interests. But
public sphere, but also provided legitimacy that role has yet to be realized by TVRI and
to professionally regulate the media industry it has even become more dependent on the
in order to be more committed to the public. government budget that seemed to be more
Subsequently, several media outlets and political in the DPR.
organizations were established under the According to Gh, an RCTI official, most
Habibie regime as part of a national media broadcasters should politico-economically
reform and they developed from simple into adapt to the current situation as a result of the
complex businesses. rise of information era. Audiences and social
The minister of information, Muhammad organizations preferences have significantly
Yunus, during the Habibie era attempted to changed including their sensibility and
truly create milestone reforms by “revoking the expectations toward media programs (Interview
printing and publication permit called SIUPP, on October 27 th 2013). Private-commercial
issuing over twelve hundred (1200) new print television networks with significant income
licenses, and approving the issue of five new revenues from advertising such as RCTI could
commercial television licenses and more than provide programs that meet the audience needs.
nine hundred new commercial radio licenses, On the other hand, TVRI, after having lost its
twenty-four officially recognized journalists’ budget since Suharto’s era until the present day
association. Then, commercial radio stations’ has been struggling to maintain its organization.
obligation to relay state news was reduced Donist, a TVRI official, mentioned that TVRI
to three bulletins a day. Radio and television would on occasion run out of budget to produce
stations reveled in the opportunity to produce good programs. This is why TVRI frequently
their own news bulletins and present openly broadcasts mere reruns of its programs. Ironically,
critical analyses of current affairs. Finally, commercial TV has become more developed
during transitional period in 1998–9 both radio today while TVRI remains stagnant and in need
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Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Volume 20, Nomor 1, Juli 2016
of innovation to survive and compete with others (Donist, interview October 21st 2013).It seems
(Interview on October 21st 2013). that TVRI is unable to seize its time to become
After the implementation of Broadcasting a great public broadcaster.
Law in 2002, according to article 13 (2), TVRI Amidst the complicated media
was transformed into a Lembaga Penyiaran democratization agenda in the long term,
Publik or LPP (Public Broadcasting Service) private-commercial TV networks have focused
in order to strengthen its role in promoting more on business profit (Sudibyo et al, 2004),
national interests and democratic life. TVRI whilst TVRI as a public-oriented media
was previously a Perusahaan Jawatan (Perjan, appeared to be withering, and this is the reason
Corporate Office) through the government why civil society actors need to practically
regulation of PP No.36/2000 in which TVRI observe the media sector and be engaged
coordinated with the Minister of Finance. in improving potential media system as
Then it changed into a Perseroan Terbatas well as promoting democratic media policy,
(Limited Company) through PP No. 9/2002 institutional reform, and media advocacy-
in order to return its advertisement program literacy movements.
for profit, in which TVRI coordinated with The following table shows the economic
the Minister of BUMN (Badan Usaha Milik landscape of Indonesian national television
Negara, State-Owned Enterprises) (Sudibyo et networks in 2011.
al, 2004). However, even with TVRI`s status From the six groups of ten private
as a Public Broadcasting Service promoting national television networks above, “MNC
internal reform and enabling at least 15 percent group appears to be the most powerful
for advertising programs as stipulated in the broadcasters with the highest share of 36.7
Broadcasting Law of 2002, the income from percent consisting of RCTI, Global TV, and
advertising remained insufficient to operate MNCTV. Whilst TVRI has a market share of
TVRI programs and TVRI depends heavily on only 1.4 percent of the total share. Yet, the
the frequently unpunctual government budget concentration of television network ownership
Table 1.
The Landscape of Indonesian National Television
TV Channel First on Air Status Market Share %
TVRI 1962 State/Independent 1.4 1.4
RCTI 1987 Merged (MNC) 19
Global TV 2001 Merged (MNC) 5.1 36.7
MNCTV 1990 Merged (MNC) 12.6
(Formerly TPI)+
SCTV 1989 Merged (EMTEK)+ 17.3 31.5
Indosiar 1995 Merged (EMTEK)+ 14.2
Trans TV 2001 Merged (TransCorp) 12.1 18.5
Trans 7 2001, Merged (TransCorp) 6.4
re-launch in 2006
TV One 2001 Merged (Bakrie/MM Group)+ 4.5
(formerly Lativi) 8.7
ANTV 1993 Merged (Bakrie/MM Group)+ 4.2
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
in Indonesia results from the practice of CSOs` activism in carrying out present offline
mergers and consolidation of media businesses and online functions by criticizing the ruling
as a logical consequence of media liberalization, elites and promoting democracy throughout
but it is partly not favorable in terms of all sectors in both the virtual and real world in
media democratization (Lim, 2011).”In other contemporary Indonesia.
words, TVRI is supposedly more engaged in
promoting sustainable media democratization, Media Democratization and KPI`s Role in
but its economic power and resources are Controlling Undemocratic Tendencies of
completely weak. As such, the public depends Private Media
more on the kindness of private media outlets Why couldn’t KPI control the private
to democratize the public sphere. media? The main reason behind political
In that sense, Lim emphasized the parties` colonization toward media life in post-
probable negative impact of such private media Suharto Indonesia is the oligarchic networks
ownership in the long term toward media of wealthy politicians that occupied political
democratization due to a lack of competition. parties’ demands to control political life since
The small amount of media companies firmly they have become more powerfully organized.
dominate the media industry and they have At the same time, this colonization operates
created a media oligopoly that contributed with the lack of media democratization
to biased political contents (Lim, 2011). carried out by KPI (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia,
However, ownership interventions over media Indonesian Broadcasting Commission) along
organizations and contents mostly happen at with civil society.
the national level in which the media industry Nevertheless, KPI to some extent has
and conglomeration massively operates. At already played a significant role in reinforcing
the local level, media interference remains the democratic role of the media particularly
unconcerned about media conglomeration, in terms of contents and ownership of
instead it is apparently being operated by local broadcasting media. This could potentially
politicians in hegemonic cooperation with the foster media supremacy as the fourth estate of
media. democracy wherein KPI mediates media logic
The biased media intensively appeared in controlling political life and society. KPI has
during Indonesian elections at local and contributed in the transitional third stage of
national level since 2009 until 2014. Indeed, mediatization of politics in Indonesia in which
some scholars are more concerned on real the media are supposedly striving to influence
media freedom today in which Indonesia and transform politics and culture to be more
still needs more of especially those relating to democratic.
political issues. However, a more important KPI is an independent institution as
issue is the recent situation regarding media stipulated by the Broadcasting Law 32/2002.
performance upon gaining media freedom It is established at the national and local level
under complex oligarchic politics. This is also to promote media democratization in Post-
the rational argument for the presence of KPI, New Order Indonesia. Public regulations,
which should be supported by CSOs in the especially regarding the broadcasting sector,
media sector, in regulating and observing have been regulated in the broadcasting law
the media industry in Post-Authoritarian but a number of revisions remain necessary.
Indonesia. In the meantime, internet-based Judhariksawan and Idi Muzayyad, KPI`s
alternative media which essentially are online commissioners, explained that the complex
and social media have emerged to support political circumstances related to business
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Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Volume 20, Nomor 1, Juli 2016
and elites` interests make it difficult to have in the law such as diversity of owners and
the law fully implemented as of current. KPI contents that accommodate public demands in
has indeed attempted to negotiate with all terms of social, cultural, and economic contents
involved stakeholders particularly the Ministry at the local and national level.
of Information and Communication, private In fact, private television networks have
media and decision makers during the ongoing not established the Sistem Siaran Berjaringan
revision of this law in order to evaluate the law (National Station System) as stipulated by the
and prepare for the next media democratization broadcasting law in which private national media
agendas (Interview on September 19th 2013). organizations such as RCTI, SCTV, TV One,
The table 2 below shows the main etc. should establish local stations, build their
challenges of KPI in media democratization as infrastructure, and provide human resources
stipulated by the Broadcasting Law 32/2002. in each province in Indonesia. Even worse,
In summary, KPI is faced with three private television networks have yet to respond
challenges. First, KPI has no full authority completely to any public criticism regarding
over media license of broadcasters which media contents that contradict with social
significantly affects its relations toward media values and political rules such as pornography,
conglomeration. Second, KPI could barely mystic-oriented movies/programs or political
manage media monopoly and cross-ownership campaign by political parties and figures. Article
because not only does KPI operate based on 5 provides information, to some extent, regarding
a weak rule of law and legitimacy, but those the meaning of media democratization in the
media monopoly and cross-ownership are law advocated by KPI and CSOs in the media
subtly backed up by political parties and their sector:
elites. Third, KPI could not insist national
private media to establish NSS (Network Table 2.
Station System) considering coverage areas and Article 5 of the Broadcasting Law
distributing knowledge and capacities because No. 32/2002
those media argue that they do not have the Democratic Broadcasting Objectives:
No. Indonesian Values
resources to establish network stations in each and Culture
province. However, the reasoning behind the 1 To respect Pancasila & UUD 1945,
media’s reluctance and lack of enthusiasm to 2 To build national characters,
democratize the media sector in the Post-New 3 To develop human capacity,
Order era is because they gain a huge sum of 4 To promote national unity and
integrity,
money from the prevailing system and at the
5 To encourage discipline and
same time their position is rather strong being enforcement of law,
backed up by oligarchic politicians. 6 To support freedom of expression,
According to Gh, an RCTI official, the participatory development, and
environmental sustainability,
Broadcasting Law based regulation is not
7 To end monopoly and advocate good
relevant and suitable to private television competition,
networks’ interests. In truth, this law restricts 8 To increase social wellbeing, social
private television networks to gain greater profit equality, and national competitive
advantage,
and enforces them to be more fully concerned
9 To provide credible information, cover
on serving the public (Interview on October both side and be responsible,
27th 2013). KPI, based on the Broadcasting Law, 10 To promote national culture.
needs to strictly regulate the private television Source: Author modified from The Broadcasting
networks to adapt to democratic values implied Law No 32/2002 Article 5
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Muhammad Thaufan Arifuddin, Why Political Parties Colonize the Media
in Indonesia: an Exploration of Mediatization
KPI has been truly supported by Civil under varying situations in Indonesia`s post-
Society Organizations (CSOs) to promote the 1998 democracy, such as the business media`s
broadcasting law, but their support is still colonization, contestation over media policy,
incapable of compelling private media outlets and the advent of alternative internet media
to fully comply to it. The reason for this is that that goes beyond prevailing boundaries in
KPI has no legal standing to being a powerful contemporary Indonesian politics.
regulator that imposes sanctions such as in Moreover, mediatization of politics in
issuing warnings and stopping media licenses Indonesia could clearly be explained through the
of any private television network if they do not role of KPI in the current mediatization era. This
adhere to the law. Thus, reformist politicians are article started from a political economy analysis
still lobbying DPR to revise that law while CSOs under Suharto’s Era and continued to explain
in the media sector are still finding it difficult how KPI played a role to determine and mediate
advocating the public interests and promoting the complex interactions between the media and
media literacy due to financial issues. It is without political actors in Indonesia at different levels
a doubt that they are in need of a lot more support and situations. KPI is undeniably not a perfect
from the grassroots community. institution to control political parties, elites and
their private media, but it partly contributes
Conclusion to promoting media democratization in post
Mediatization of politics is proven to reform Indonesia based on the Broadcasting
be operating in Indonesia under political and Law 32/2002. Alternative online and social media
informational circumstances. Indeed, the politico- also play a role in supporting deliberations
economy analysis based on the school of critical of online democracy as well as in criticizing
theory is the most useful and provides the political parties, elites, and their dominant private
deepest perspective in understanding social and media. The above activities completely took
political phenomena including the media sector place under complex media-politics relations
by mainly identifying and recognizing that media in the post New Order era. The role of KPI in
conglomerations today are owned, maintained, regulating the media sector proved the elusive
and utilized by oligarchic political parties rooted existence of a contestation between political
in the legacy of the Suharto’s authoritarian regime. logic and media logic under today`s oligarchic
According to Hadiz (V. R. Hadiz, 2004, 2008; V. networks. Traditional media remains significant
Hadiz, 2003; A Heryanto & Hadiz, 2005), the despite having been hijacked and weakened by
structure of Indonesian politics remains strongly political parties and their elites, whereas KPI
imbued by the New Order legacy. at the national level is still promoting media
However, a pluralist based mediatization logic. Alternative media is needed since they are
perspective will most likely broaden and trying to offer alternative media logic beyond
sharpen the public’s horizons in interpreting mainstream media and political logic of oligarchic
media trends related to political realms in power in post-Authoritarian Indonesia.
the Post-Authoritarian era. At the same time,
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