By : Davina G )*
The mass media has a strategic role in maintaining political stability after the 2024 General Election (Pemilu). Media integrity is also a determining factor in overcoming challenges such as national disintegration and the spread of hoaxes. The mass media must be able to reject all forms of provocation that can cause division in society. Media caution in disseminating information must be the main focus to maintain the country’s political stability.
Elections are an important moment in a country’s democratic life. In Indonesia, the mass media has a role in shaping public opinion, especially in the context of the General Election. In fact, the increasing public participation in the democratic process last February also became an important role of the mass media.
Mass media including television and radio have direct access to millions of voters throughout Indonesia, as well as social media which has a wider audience reach. Information conveyed by the media can influence the public’s perspective on the election process itself. Therefore, the media has a great responsibility to convey accurate, balanced, and unbiased information.
Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, KH Ma’ruf Amin said that media integrity must be something that is maintained together because its role is very large for security and conduciveness after the 2024 Election. He also said that the mass media should not become a mouthpiece for provocateurs in spreading hatred and hostility.
In addition, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin also asked the media not to be a source of spreading fake news (hoaxes) because it often does not have a clear source and is only made by certain parties or individuals who want to pit the public against each other. Not only the media, all parties, both organizers, participants, and the wider community must also play a role in maintaining the integrity of the nation after the 2024 Election.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2021-2024 Period, Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus said that political education for the media is very important in the election implementation process with the aim of preventing and reducing identity politics and hoax information. It is hoped that there will be collaboration between the Ministry of Communication and Information, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Police, BSSN, and security forces related to the use of mass media and social media so that they can be used more targeted. This collaboration must be integrated to prevent the spread of fake news, so that there is no polarization or identity politics that trigger division after the 2024 Election.
In line with this, the President Director of Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), Hendrasmo is committed to supporting positive publications after the 2024 Election, especially related to the Prabowo-Gibran government program in informing the public about a number of programs for the people, such as the nutritious food program. RRI has an important role in disseminating its programs and policies, so that the public is increasingly aware (caring) and of course will facilitate the Prabowo-Gibran government process.
Support in the form of dissemination because RRI is a state media. Moreover, RRI is also responsible to the President. Therefore, his party is committed to ensuring that the public knows what the Prabowo-Gibran Government will do, especially in the context of its programs and policies. In addition, Hendrasmo said that RRI can also be a space to monitor the government. Thus, RRI will fully support the policies of the upcoming government.
The high level of public awareness regarding the Prabowo-Gibran Government programs cannot be separated from the role of the mass media in providing an understanding to the public about the importance of public support for the new Government, so that later the public will feel the results of the sustainable policies implemented by Prabowo-Gibran.
With good synergy between the media and the community, it is expected to build solidarity and place the interests of the nation higher than other interests. This solidarity is very much needed to prevent all threats of national disintegration sharpened by individuals who want to divide the nation.
Therefore, the mass media, especially television, has an important role in publishing positive narratives during the transition to the Prabowo-Gibran government so that the public can support all programs and policies implemented by the new government.
The active role of the media in maintaining the integrity of the nation after the election through positive publications is also considered very important in order to prevent the potential for rifts in brotherhood between fellow citizens. On the other hand, the public must also appreciate and respect the policies that will be determined by President-elect Prabowo and be able to respond to information with a complete understanding so that the response given is also positive for the benefit of the nation and state. A positive attitude from all parties is very important for the common welfare because this transition period must be used as a means to realize the nation’s progress towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
)* The author is an activist of the Batavia Young Literacy Forum
