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Net TV’s Effort on Mediation between Government and Citizen

1SITI KARLINAH,2IKA MERDEKAWATI KUSMAYADI,3SITI ARPIAH

1, 2,3 Journalism on Faculty of Communication Science Padjadjaran University, Indonesian Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract.The practice of citizen journalism is an effort in delivering underground voices to be lifted to the surface. In the beginning of it emerges, the practice of citizen journalism takes place to through electronic mails and blogs. As it grows, the mainstream media such as television began to look at this practice. NET as broadcasting television media has citizen journalism program, called NET 10. NET TV here plays not only as media messages, but they also trying to mediate the government. Therefore, the video on social criticism that is sent by the citizen journalist could have attention and solution through the public affairs category.This study aims to find out (1) the policy of NET 10 program categories of Public Affairs as NET TV mediation efforts between citizens and the government. (2) The mediation process (3) the evaluation program applied NET 10 categories of Public Affairs. The method applied qualitative research with intrinsic case study approach by Robert E. Stake to the NET editorial.The results showed that NET 10 program policies Public Affairs category is a set of NET mediation efforts to unite citizens and government to create a democratic climate. While the mediation process through NET 10 program Public Affairs category may occur due to the presence of social media. Unfortunately, the evaluation showed NET 10 program categories of Public Affairs is not optimal in its efforts to mediate between citizens and the government.

Keywords:Citizen Journalism, Journalist, Mediation, NET TV, Television

Introduction task of television is to promote the process of democracy with enlightenment to the public. Television has a number of advantages This task can be carried television through news that can be used to support the public interest. programs. Unfortunately, television tend to According to Morissan (2004: 289) the power of consider on rating first, the majority of news in picture and sound on television gives a huge Indonesian television is called top-down news influence in human life. It is also stated by Adi which is the news that is presented come from Badjuri (2010: 127) television can pursue the the top interests (government and the elite) to world by implementing the spread of news and the bottom (community). According to a survey ideas more quickly. With various advantages of of broadcast television quality program index television, it is so nature that television from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission implements its role as a social institution and a (IBC) fifth period (November - December 2016) buffer of democracy in the life of society. shows that the quality index of the newscast According to Rivers and Schramm (2008) the program is 3.44. This value still has not reached

101 SITI KARLINAH1, et.al.The Net TV’s Effort on Mediation Between Government and Citizen the standard as a qualified program established are finally took the pictures from citizens to be by KPI, which is 4.00. The index in the 5th inserted in the news report. This is what is period also decreased from the 4th period touted as collaboration between citizen (September -October 2016) period by 3.1%. journalism with professional media. The practice Furthermore, according to IBC surveys, of citizen journalism in television is a 'independent' and 'News Balances' indicators collaborative practice between citizen journalism showed the numbers 3.13 and 3.10 being the and professional media. It is also applied by NET lowest compared to other indicators. This through NET 10 program. The NET 10 program is indicates that the news broadcast program is not a NET citizen journalism medium utilizing TV yet fully aligned with the public so that the news screen that is incorporated with NET Citizen of surrounding issues that are present around Journalist (NET CJ). There are 14 categories of the community (bottom-up news) and become NET CJ editor groupings aired by NET 10 editors crucial to the public is rarely shown. To create a in five segments. These categories are Moment, bottom-up news practice, the emergence of Business, Traveling, Public Affairs, Unique, Citizen Journalism is important. Adi (2016) said Culture, Culinary, Hobby, Inspiring, Health, that citizen-based journalism practices are an Entertainment, Kids, Environment, Sport and effort to accommodate the voices of the Short Movie. The NET 10 editor does not undercurrent to be lifted because citizen broadcast the 14 categories simultaneously. The journalism does not exaggerate what appears in editor will select a certain categories that will advance and ignores the pent-up facts that appear every day. According to Senior Producer should be reported. Citizen journalism gives top NET 10, Danu Puguh, the category that became priority to public discussion on various topics, the backbone of the editorial is the category of and encourages people to find their own Public Affairs. It is because the topics that are solutions. The emergence of citizen journalism in broadcasted are very close and become part of can not be separated from the the daily life of the community. This category emergence of the internet. In the early allows citizen journalists to post videos of public emergence of internet in Indonesia, citizen interest such as facilities, infrastructure, or journalism activity is identical with the public services in the form of appreciation or emergence of mailing list. Merlyna Lim in criticism for the government. Citizen journalists 'Archipelago Online: The Internet and Political can submit an appreciation video of a well- Activism in Indonesia' (2005) found there are a maintained and beautiful public facility, number of mailing lists that pioneered the use of infrastructure or service. In addition, citizen the internet as a political activity mostly driven journalists can also post news on social by citizens abroad such as Janus, Isnet (Isnet criticisms of an abandoned public interest. NET @), FicaNet and The most famous is “Apakabar” CJ Senior Producer Thomas Herda states that the made in Maryland, USA. In this space, discussion birth of the Public Affairs category is the and exchange of opinions and ideas are done implementation of NET's great ideals to be a which later considered as one of the important change agent in a creative and elegant way. As elements of the 1998 Reformation movement. the numbers of uploaded videos are social Technological developments make citizen criticism from citizen journalists, in 2015 NET journalism expand to mainstream media such as seeks to provide solutions from the video. The radio and television. According to Mochammad way is through cooperation with the government Kurniawan's research, in Indonesia, citizen radio so that if there is a video of social criticism in the journalism originated from Elshinta radio station category of Public Affairs who go to the editor since 2000, and until now Elshinta has 100,000 will be directly responded by the relevant citizen reporters. While the practice of citizen government. Throughout 2015, NET has been journalism in television is seen in 2005 when working with seven governments at the level of many disasters hit Indonesia such as the the Regent, the Governor or the Mayor. They are tsunami in Aceh, the earthquake in Sumatra and the Vice Governor of DKI Jakarta, Djarot Saiful Yogyakarta and the eruption of Mount Merapi in Hidayat; Mayor, Bima Arya Sugiarto; Magelang. Almost all national television stations Purwakarta Regent, Dedi Mulyadi; Mayor of

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Bandung; ; Mayor of , Tri elements of journalism. The function of this Rismaharini. Governor of Central, Java Ganjar forum is to produce a democracy built on the Pranowo and Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja principles of journalism, namely honesty, facts, Purnama. These public officials will respond to and verification. Related to the formation of citizen submissions via talk shows or taping forums and public spaces, Habermas (in through the NET news program 10 categories of Wibowo, 2010: 24) reveals that public space is a Public Affairs. An interesting phenomenon space that bridges between the state and civil occurred in areas that have no cooperated with society. This space is a universal space, where NET. There are eight videos where citizen people gather to discuss what needs to be journalists claim their area has improved discussed. Habermas (1974: 49-55) says public facilities or infrastructure after their videos space as a mediation of society and state, in appear on NET 10. Hearing this, NET directly which the public regulates itself as a carrier of verifies citizen journalists and attempts to public opinion or opinion. Referring to reproduce the condition of public facilities or Habermas's thought, Maryani (2011: 44) improving public infrastructure. According to declares the expected public sphere is a space Thomas, from the eight videos, one of the most where critical debates about the public interest phenomenal is the program on July 27, 2016 regarding state relations with his society take about the village of Batu Malengang in North place. The debate is possible if the power in the Sumatra, which has never been electricity since space is distributed equally among its members 73 years ago. On August 17, 2016, the so that it is possible to create emancipation in government and PLN followed up this issue by society. Based on the introduction above, we installing a kilowatt hour (KWH) meter. Within interested to examine how the mediation efforts ten days installation of the network has been between citizens and government conducted NET installed as many as 20 poles for the flow of through the program NET 10 categories Public electricity. Based on the above description of the Affairs. Therefore, the identification of the researchers assess the category of Public Affairs problem as follows: is a NET mediation effort between citizens and 1. How is the NET 10 program policy government. According to McQuail (1989: 52) category Public Affairs as a NET the mass media has a mediating role in the mediation effort between citizens and sense that mass media are often among government? recipients with other parts of experience that are 2. How does the NET 10 program mediation beyond perception and direct contact. The mass process Public Affairs category as a NET media may be among recipients with other mediation effort between citizens and institutions, providing channels for different government? institutions, and channeling others. This mediation effort is also an implementation of the 3. How is the evaluation of the NET function of mass media especially the function of program 10 categories of Public Affairs as the linkage. According to Dominick (2005: 34 - a NET mediation effort between citizens 35) in the linkage function of the mass media is and government? able to connect elements contained within the community that can not be done directly by Methods individual channels. Another type of relationship The method that is used in this research is function occurs when groups that share common qualitative research method. Robert E. Stake interests but geographically separated are defines a case study as a study of the interconnected or connected by the media. The particularity and complexity of one case, which NET program of 10 categories of Public Affairs aims to understand its activities in important also shows how the media run public forums for circumstances (1995: xi). Stake divided the case criticism of the government. Kovach and study into three types, namely intrinsic case Rosenstiel (2003: 174) state journalism should study, instrumental case study, and collective present a forum for public criticism and case study. In this study, the type of case study commentary in the sixth element of nine used was an intrinsic case study because the

103 SITI KARLINAH1, et.al.The Net TV’s Effort on Mediation Between Government and Citizen researcher wanted to be more deeply in a These governments will be asked for responses particular case. This type is taken not because of and solutions related to the submissions of a case representing other cases or because it citizens of social criticisms in their area. The describes certain traits or problems, but because existence of this practice makes the editor be a in all aspects of its specificity and simplicity the mediator between citizens and government in an case itself attracts interest (Denzeler & Lincoln, effort to provide solutions in the region. 2009: 300). In this study, researchers want to The election of a government in the level of understand how the efforts of NET as a mediator governor, regent, or mayor are to be invited to between citizens and government through the cooperate in response to the video category program NET 10 categories Public Affairs. Public Affairs is determined by the image of the Data collection technique is done by figure in society and the type of leadership. The observation, interview, and document or library figure should be inspirational, open-minded and study. Meanwhile, data analysis technique is positive. Starting from the beginning of done by organizing and sorting data into production in 2014 to 2016 there are already patterns, categories, and basic descriptive units seven governments that established cooperation so that the theme can be found and workable with NET, namely Vice Governor of Jakarta, hypotheses can be formulated as suggested by Djarot Saiful Hidayat; Bogor Mayor, Bima Arya the data (Moleong (2007: 280). The data validity Sugiarto; Purwakarta Regent, Dedy Mulyadi; technique is performed by triangulation in which Mayor of , Ridwan Kamil; Mayor of this technique takes advantage of something Surabaya, , Central Java else for checking purposes or as a benchmark Governor, Ganjar Pranomo, and Jakarta against the data. Denzin (in Moleong, 2007: Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. However, 330) says that with triangulation, researchers from seven governments that are still doing the can recheck their findings by comparing them show until now is the Mayor of Bogor, Bima Arya with different sources, methods, or theories. Sugiarto and Purwakarta Regent, Dedi Mulyadi. All governments that cooperate with NET will Result and Disccussion directly have a personal account of NET CJ which can be accessed through android app and iOS or Since its official launch on 26th May 2013, netcj.co.id website. This personal account NET has developed citizen journalism through contains a government invitation for citizens to the NET 10 news program in collaboration with submit videos of Public Affairs categories as well the Citizen Journalist (NET CJ) NET program. as a collection of social critique videos from the NET 10 serves as a storefront or venue of citizen citizens themselves so that citizens and journalism video submission in television. As governments can directly interact with each many as 90% of news shows in NET 10 are other. videos of citizen journalism, the rest is national news updates. The existence of cooperation with the government is a NET mediation effort so that a Meanwhile, NET CJ acts as the front guard region gets an improvement of public interest in collecting and selecting videos to run on NET (facilities, infrastructure, and public services). In 10 or netcj.com website. Quoted from the official this case, McQuail (2011: 91) mentions page (http://netcj.co.id/about) netcj.co.id is also mediation contains many manifestations of a social media that allows people to search, activity, ranging from direct relationships with watch, and share news information through the one another through negotiation, providing video itself. No different from other social media, information neutrally, up to one's control over NET CJ also facilitates inter-member interaction, another until the manipulation and control commenting and rating, sharing videos, and experiments. To increase the participation of joining a discussion forum. The mediation efforts citizen journalists, the editorial has been through are carried out by NET through cooperation with several strategies as well as honorarium, a the government at the level of governor, regent, competition called CJ Voice in 2015 and in or mayor. The form of cooperation is through 2017's theme promotion called “Be the Change”. live broadcast in NET 10 by talk show or taping. In this latest promotion activity, NET is not only

eISSN: 2581-0782 | pISSN: 2581-0766 104 ACCOMAC (Juli, 2017): 101-108 trying to create improvement and change of social criticism video immediately responded and public facilities in a region by cooperating with no doubt will be given immediate action by the the government, but also in cooperation with government. various institutions, communities, and Nasrullah (2015: 23) adds this refraction community institutions. Then the mass media will make the mass media as a powerful may be among recipients with other institutions, information producer to weaken because often providing channels for different institutions, and the mass media consume information from social channeling others (McQuail, 1989: 52). media. Researchers see exactly the role of NET The process of NET mediation through the as producers of information getting stronger, NET program 10 categories of Public Affairs is thanks to social media. Thomas also said that different each year. In 2015, NET acts as the NET CJ can grow, thanks to the help of social main actor who mediates between citizens and media. Thompson (in Mc Quail 2011: 90) says government. Turning to 2016, citizen journalists the type of mediation built by mass actively inform the government that there are communication is called 'pseudo media public facilities abandoned in the area. The interaction'. The first important characteristic is liveliness of citizen journalists is also supported that participants are not oriented as one by the help of social media. While in 2017 all particular party (both as sender and receiver), elements, namely media (NET) and citizen and symbolic form (media content) is produced journalists are actively engaged to provide for an infinite wide audience. Second, this solutions for the public interest in the region. In interaction is monologue (rather than dialogical), practice in 2017 also can not be separated from in the sense that the flow of communication is social media assistance. Recent technological one way rather than two directions. In addition, developments make environmental reality no direct response can be expected from the mediated through technology (telephone, recipient. computer, fax, Electronic mail, etc.) even on an Based on evaluation of the NET program individual and private basis (McQuail, 2011: 90). 10 categories of Public Affairs in terms of editors The NET mediation process disclosed Dahlgren government, and journalists citizens of NET, and (2005) that the internet can help to improve the according to NET editor CJ and NET 10 main direct link between government and citizens; indicators of success of the NET program 10 Provide platforms and channels for lawyers and categories of Public Affairs is the occurrence of activists; organizing civil forums for debates and changes or improvement of public interest from discussions; and also adds more new branches social criticism video sent citizens through the of journalism. category of Public Affairs. That is, facilities, Nasrullah (2015: 23) says the presence of infrastructure, or public services in an area that social media will bias the position of producers was initially less well maintained or neglected to and consumers of information. Audiences of be better post-aired on the NET 10. Rating and mass media who see information in social media share is also a reference for editor especially by making, commenting, or forwarding such NET 10 as an indicator whether program success information are also seen as producers of or not. If the number of spectators is quite a lot, information. This is seen by researchers also then the level of awareness of citizens against occur in the process of mediating the NET the category of Public Affairs is also high. Once Programs 10 categories of Public Affairs the level of awareness of citizens is high, then especially in the practice in 2016 and 2017. In the possibility of a region to change to better the mediation process in both years the citizen direction through NET 10 program will be even journalist’s act as a news producer by greater. While the NET CJ editor does not really distributing videos that have aired on NET 10 via prioritize rating and share if NET can give a big media accounts Personal social. Citizen impact of an event. Thomas gave an example of journalists can also directly mark the social Eko Primaryanto's shipment video of Sulami, a media accounts belonging to the relevant Sragen citizen whose entire body is rigid for government or government so that citizens' decades. After the video goes live on NET 10 and

105 SITI KARLINAH1, et.al.The Net TV’s Effort on Mediation Between Government and Citizen become viral in social media, finally the editor the constraints of the cooperating government, tried to help Sulami. The editors have Thomas says the obstacles lie in the time and established cooperation with the online bureaucratic process. So far the cooperation fundraising community, kitabisa.com. The result between the editor and the government is only of this collaboration was amazing with total done personally. Danu said this is an obstacle funds collected for Sulami takes to 146 million because there is no official agreement (MoU) Rupiah. In addition, thanks to this issue the from both parties so that NET TV has not been company in this case NET TV also applies the “Be considered by the government as the first media the Change” promo activities in all programs. as a reference to the issue of public interest Moreover, this issue eventually becomes a (infrastructure, facilities, and public services). national issue even covered by international While from citizen journalists themselves, media. That is, the impact of citizen journalists' the editors see citizen journalists can not be videos is huge. sensitive to the problems that exist in the In terms of rating and share, according to vicinity. Citizen journalists tend to duplicate Vane-Gross (in Morissan, 2008: 252 - 254) it is previous programs that often air on NET 10, so one of five commercial television commercial that journalist coverages of majority citizens of aims: the same kind. The last obstacle is the lack of 1. Getting as many audiences as possible competent human resources to control the category of Public Affairs in focus. Danu said 2. Targeting a specific audience there must be one person who manages Public 3. Prestige or recognition from others Affairs category well because the public interest 4. Awarding is quite a lot. This is important because the editor wants Public Affairs to be the first 5. Public interest. reference container community in overcoming Programs are produced to meet the public problems. interests or needs of the public in which the Editorial plans in 2017 the implementation station is located. Conveyed about the social of cooperation with the government will be criticism that occurred in the region, judging widespread. Some governments that will be from the evaluation of the views of governments invited to cooperation include the Mayor of South that are invited to work together, NET TV is Tangerang, Airin Rachmi Diany and Central Java considered as a medium that can maximize Governor, Ganjar Pranomo and strengthen government communication with the community. cooperation with Mayor of Bandung, Ridwan Unfortunately, according to the Mayor of Bogor, Kamil and Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini Bima Arya, the intensity of NET TV to invite cooperation in the form of live broadcast, In the future, the editors will also seek tapping, and so forth is not enough because the many ways that the government that has not cooperation is done within a span of several officially cooperated can take part in responding months. Meanwhile, Purwakarta Regent, Dedi to the problems that exist in the region. A set of Mulyadi expects NET CJ not only to be a video of policies, processes, and evaluations of the NET social critic, but also serves as an intelligence 10 category of Public Affairs program is an media so that citizens not only ask for solutions implementation to support the public sphere. to the government but also solve the problems. According to Mc Quail (2011: 201) there are several ways that the mass media can support Turning to the evaluation of citizen the public sphere as disclosed as follows: journalists, they consider NET CJ as the right media of social criticism to the government. A. Expand the space for debate Citizen journalists hope that NET TV can expand B. Distribute information and ideas as a cooperation with other regions. The editors also basis for public opinion found some obstacles to this mediation effort. C. Connecting citizens with government Constraints lie in three aspects, namely from the government who work together, the citizen D. Provide moving information journalists, and internal editorial. Judging from

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E. Challenge government monopoly in misrepresentation would have distorted politics an accurate judgment. In this case, the F. Extend freedom and diversity of NET TV has not yet represented the focus publications of the Peterson's main constituent groups. However, the existence of citizen The effort of NET TV mediation between journalists in the category of Public citizens and government through the NET TV Affairs becomes representative of a program 10 categories of Public Affairs is also group of people in certain areas who feel based on the theory of social responsibility dissapointed because of the condition of Theodore Peterson. Peterson (1986: 99-104) the region. Citizen journalists in the states there are 5 criteria that must be done the category of Public Affairs are at the press, namely: forefront of other citizens to express their A. First, the press is required to present opinions to the relevant government "reports of everyday events on a regular through NET TV, so that corrections or basis, honest, deep, and intelligent in a improvements in the area are context that gives meaning to those immediately fixed by the government events". It demands the press to always D. Fourth, the press should be responsible be accurate, not to lie. This also means in the "presentation and decomposition the press must present facts as facts and of the goals and values of society."As the opinions as opinions. In this case, NET TV category of Public Affairs progresses, as a press person has presented the facts researchers see the purpose of citizen in accordance with the views of the journalists uploading the video category citizens. The editors also verify by doing Public Affairs is to bring changes in the the fact checking to the citizen journalists region. So, NET TV is responsible for this who make videos or through NET TV by being a mediator between citizens and contributors in the region. government. B. Secondly, the press should be "A forum E. Finally, the press should present "a full for exchange of comments and opportunity to obtain daily news".NET criticism".This means that the massive citizen journalists can post news videos mass communications institutions should every day, even to see the news story on consider themselves as general couriers NET 10 news program. Unfortunately, full for discussion among the public, the chances to get daily news have not been press giants should also bring opinions fulfilled because NET 10 only aired from that are different from their opinions Monday-Friday only. Not to mention, if without having to give up their right to the special segment of Public Affairs support someone. The NET CJ exchange should be abolished because of national forum comments and criticisms are issues. presented through the netcj.co.id website as well as the official social media Conclusion accounts of NET CJ, ie Facebook (NET Citizen Journalist), twitter (@NET_CJ), The NET TV mediation effort between and Instagram (@net_cj) and via citizens and government is the implementation Youtube Official NET News. of NET 10 policy and program strategy of Public Affairs category which leads to the creation of C. Thirdly, the press should feature "a democratic climate. This democratic climate is representative representation of the created because NET TV presents a public space basic constituent groups in society."This through the practice of citizen journalism in requirement asks the press to accurately which citizens can express opinions without disclose social groups, such as Chinese or pressure from the dominance of certain groups. Negro groups, as people tend to make decisions in favor of a favorable image or Postproduction and production processes in who does not Profitable, and a NET TV mediation efforts are conducive and

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