Contribution of Online Media Citizen Journalism to Create City Images Agus Triyono Universitas Dian Nuswantoro Jl. Imam Bonjol 207 Semarang 50131 Email: [email protected] Abstract: Citizen journalism develops dynamically through online media. Many spaces are provided to disseminate information, including information about the potential of an area. This study aims to determine the role of citizen journalism in the city of Semarang and surrounding areas. The research method used is descriptive qualitative by analyzing data through online mass media. The objecst of this research are citizen journalism channels in the mainstream media, namely Kompasiana.com owned by Kompas.com, PasangMata.com owned by detikcom, Indonesiana.id owned by Tempo, and Rubik.okezone.com owned by Okezone. The result shows that citizen journalism contributes to the development of the image of the city of Semarang. Keywords: citizen journalism, city image, online media Abstrak: Jurnalisme warga berkembang secara dinamis melalui media online. Banyak ruang disediakan untuk menyampaikan informasi, di antaranya informasi mengenai potensi daerah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran jurnalisme warga di Kota Semarang dan sekitarnya. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan menganalisis data melalui media massa online. Objek penelitian ini adalah kanal jurnalisme warga di media arus utama, yaitu Kompasiana.com milik Kompas.com, PasangMata.com milik detikcom, Indonesiana.id milik Tempo, dan Rubik.okezone.com milik Okezone. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa jurnalisme warga memberi kontribusi terhadap pembangunan citra kota Semarang. Kata Kunci: citra kota, jurnalisme warga, media online Citizen journalism continues to show its Everyone can participate in producing existence. They disseminate information online media content without a journalistic through various media, including online or special educational background. Citizen media that are easily accessed by the public. journalism can be done by anyone, anytime, and anywhere, ranging from students, The contribution of citizen journalism teachers, housewives, employees, doctors, through online media is experiencing and other professions (Nurudin, 2009, p. rapid development. This media provides 215). In the context of mainstream media, more space for the public to convey their the expression of citizens’ freedom must information. Various problems and events follow media or journalistic rules. become easily published from anywhere as Currently, citizen journalists highlight long as we have an internet network. many things, including issues that concern 209 Jurnal ILMU KOMUNIKASI VOLUME 16, NOMOR 2, Desember 2019: 209-224 the public interest. Various public facilities Online media (often called cyber that are not environmentally friendly or media, internet media, or new media) can inadequate infrastructure are the objects of be easily defined as media that presents citizen journalism. On the other hand, the information online on internet websites. potential of a region can also be a positive Online media is the third generation information. The existence of a region after print media (newspapers, tabloids, requires a good image from the community, magazines, books, etc.) and electronic like a city that also needs a positive image. media (radio, television, and film/video). This condition can affect the people who Online media are defined as technology- will visit it because the good impression will mediated communication products that are be attached to a region. Kotler and Keller used in conjunction with digital computers (2012, p. 263-264) assess that consumers’ (Creeber & Martin, 2009, p. 2). perceptions and beliefs are formed based In Indonesia, various online media are on the experiences they feel and summarize growing and have unique characteristics. in their memories. Media companies also develop their For example, some areas in the city of business through online media. Meanwhile, Semarang, Central Java, have a variety of citizen journalists do not have a place or authentic foods and unique places that become community to build an organization. public spaces. This area provides potential In Semarang, the presence of citizen information for citizen journalists. In addition, journalism can motivate many people the city of Semarang also continues to improve, to be involved in regional development. including various public sectors that continue Citizen journalism also contributes to the to provide comfort to the community. At this improvement of a region’s positive image. point, citizen journalism has an important The information uploaded can provide contribution. Citizen journalists often send useful information for others. Indirectly, information, including their creative photos it will also affect the existence of potential or videos. They upload it to social media and regions. This condition can encourage the online mass media that have space for the tourism sector, arts and culture, education, public. road infrastructure, and other potential. One media platform that provides Thus, this study aims to determine the space for the public is online media. This contribution of citizen journalists in shaping media is growing rapidly in various parts the image of a region, even though they do of the world, including Indonesia, not least not have a citizen journalism community. in Semarang, Central Java. Online media has various features that can provide space METHOD to convey information to the public and This research uses descriptive provide opportunities for the public to qualitative analysis method. Data sources contribute in the form of citizen journalism. are taken from citizen journalism articles 210 Agus Triyono. Contribution of Online ... in Kompasiana.com, PasangMata.com, significant changes. They do not inform Indonesiana.id, and Rubik.okezone.com, all of their findings, even though citizen in the period from July 1st to December journalists are given enough space. Data 30th, 2017. This sampling technique is that has been obtained from Kompasiana. called purposive sampling (Sugiyono, com, PasangMata.com, Indonesiana.id, 2011, p. 32). Subject selection is based on and Rubik.okezone.com shows the diversity certain characteristics related to sample of image-making in a certain region. characteristics. While the sample units Each citizen journalism forum has its are adjusted to certain criteria applied to own characteristics. In Kompasiana.com, the research objectives. The sample is citizen journalists can freely explore their chosen with consideration of the concepts information descriptions. Kompasiana. used, the researcher’s personal curiosity, com has more varied space compared to and empirical characteristics. Researchers other media. The research found several used a purposive sampling technique with public spaces published by netizens, such the type of Judgment Sampling. This type as Kampung Pelangi, Kota Tua, Grand is oriented to certain samples that are Maerokoco, and Ornamental Bridges. This determined with a specific purpose or goal. citizen reporting is an advantage for the The sample is taken because the researcher advancement of tourism and improving the considers the sample to have information image of the city of Semarang. needed for research purposes (Pujileksono, In Indonesiana.id, citizen journalists 2016, p. 116). explore more about the existence of urban forests, one of the concerns of the FINDINGS Semarang city government. It shows that Research findings show that citizen netizens have good sensitivity towards journalists practice citizen journalism the priority programs of the Semarang individually. They are not part of the city government. Citizen participation citizen journalism community. This publicizes the enthusiasm of the city condition makes their activities take place government to make changes. Citizen spontaneously and without good planning. journalists provide support to groups that Some citizen journalists carry out these contribute to the increasing role of urban activities based on their experiences while forests. This support strengthens the image traveling with family or traveling around of Semarang as a city that cares about the the city. environment. The novelty of this research is marked Meanwhile, PasangMata.com puts by an analysis of information from citizen more emphasis on visuals than narration. journalists who are not part of a particular Citizen journalists publish something community. The information that has been unique on PasangMata.com, such uploaded is dynamic and tends to have as information about a village called 211 Jurnal ILMU KOMUNIKASI VOLUME 16, NOMOR 2, Desember 2019: 209-224 “Kampung Pelangi”. This village is using communication tools, such as interesting because it was designed with a newspapers, films, radio and television colorful concept. “Kampung Pelangi” also (Cangara, 2010, p. 123 & 126). The mass has a special place for couples called the media has elements that support effective bridge of love. This uniqueness is explored communication. In this context, citizen by citizen journalists and becomes a journalists must be creative in providing reference for tourists. information to the public, so that the In Rubik.okezone.com, the visual and information conveyed has an impact and narrative portions have a balanced space. contribution that is beneficial to others. In addition, information can be uploaded Analysis of Indonesiana.id quickly. Citizen journalists explore the Tempo Group through