The from News Bearer to Extreme Speech Propagator: Analysis of Shifting Practice in Production and Distribution of News on the Internet

Rouli Manalu,Djoko Setyabudi,Tandiyo Pradekso,Hadiyanto Hadiyanto,Maryono Maryono,Budi Warsito

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20187313011

Abstract

This research aims to examine the ways in which practices of information productions and distributions are shifting in the Internet era, particularly in the production of extreme speech that is claimed to be news. There are many information platforms on the Internet proclaimed as “news sites”, but instead of conveying valuable information to the readers, they are used to circulate opinionated pieces and propaganda. The popularity of user-generated content - where users were enabled not only to consume but also to produce and to distribute digital content - used to be hailed optimistically as a form of democratization that will to give chances to citizens to voice their social, economic, political, and cultural concerns. However, the recent development shows that the freedom and the easy-access offered by the Internet have been used to propagate negative content and sectarian sentiments. This research conducts analysis of ten ‘news outlets’ that were banned by Indonesian government (KOMINFO) that had been considered spreading hatred and sectarian spirit. This research will examine closely this so-called news in terms of their content, tone, and the parties that are confronted through the content. This research argues that the once embraced users-generated content as alternative news by citizen had evolved to be a form of extreme speech propagator.

Highlights

The rise of the Internet as one of the primary medium of communication has brought significant changes in the ways in which information is produced and consumed
[1] The deprofessionalization of journalism rings true in the Internet era nowadays when large circulated information is the output of non-professional actors as compare to the professional ones
This research analyzes the likely motivation for distributing the information. This analysis is conducted to better understand the practice of news media or information production by non-professional that used be associated with democratization of media industry but have shifted to become the propagation of extreme speech that display the spirit of sectarianism and divisiveness

Summary

Introduction

The rise of the Internet as one of the primary medium of communication has brought significant changes in the ways in which information is produced and consumed. Nossek coins the term ‘deprofessionalization of journalism’ referring to the situation where “everyone can be a journalist and nobody is the one.” [1] The deprofessionalization of journalism rings true in the Internet era nowadays when large circulated information is the output of non-professional actors as compare to the professional ones. This situation has challenged the authoritative position of professional journalists [2] that traditionally is known as the forefront producer of credible and trustworthy information.

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion