Media independence has once again come under the spotlight. Through her doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Communication Science (Fikom) Untar lecturer, Budi Utami, revealed Kompas TV’s tendency in framing news coverage of the two presidential candidates during the 2019 Election. Her findings earned her a Doctorate in Communication Science from Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) with the distinction of cum laude on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) at the Unpad campus in Jatinangor, West Java.
In her dissertation titled Kompas TV’s Independence in Representing Presidential Candidates in Indonesian Elections (A Critical Discourse Analysis of Rumah Pemilu Program Coverage in the 2019 Presidential Election), Budi found that Kompas TV more frequently portrayed Joko Widodo in a positive light through narratives of nationalism, simplicity, closeness to the people, and success in government programs. Conversely, Prabowo Subianto was often depicted through criticism of the government and a strong opposition stance, although he was also acknowledged as a nationalist figure.
Budi, who previously worked as a journalist at a national private television station, explained that editorial decisions were influenced by journalists’ access to sources, personal perceptions of the candidates, ratings and audience share pressures, as well as corporate interests.
Her research also offered recommendations, including the need to develop more innovative and sustainable business models to reduce reliance on conventional advertising revenue and minimize political pressure.
The dissertation defense was chaired by Prof. Dr. Drs. Atwar Bajari, M.Si, with the supervisory committee comprising Prof. Deddy Mulyana, MA, Ph.D; Prof. Dr. Eni Maryani, M.Si; and Prof. Dr. Dadang Rahmat Hidayat, S.Sos., SH., M.Si.
These findings underscore the importance of media’s commitment to the principle of independence in all stages of news production, particularly during politically charged moments. Budi Utami’s research is expected to serve as a reference for media practitioners, academics, and the public in fostering a more balanced, transparent, and public-oriented press ecosystem. (YS/LI)