Independent Media Research Articles

Sustainability and the Fashion Media: Micro-Utopia, Social Dreaming and Hope in the Margins

In the current media landscape, communication about sustainable fashion is so pervasive that it risks becoming background noise: a sea of “studium” that fails to “prick” the reader, despite the enormity of the stakes (Barthes 2000). This article asks how we might tell better stories when it comes to sustainability in the fashion media, drawing upon insights from fashion studies and environmental communication. The practices of fashion and dreaming are closely connected but this alliance does not always marry well with discourses on sustainability, which can elicit feelings of “green fatigue”. In light of this, the following article asks how fashion media might be used as a vehicle for social dreaming, rather than consumerist dreaming, in order to make sustainable fashion more desirable. Fashion media is about storytelling and so, too, is utopia, with this article theorizing independent media as a micro-utopian network through which radical narratives can be explored (building on Wood 2007). The focus here is on English-language content produced by independent magazines, not-for-profit organizations and academics. Taken collectively, these marginal forms of media represent a space where social dreaming is already taking place, with reference to discourses on utopia, slow fashion, and green consciousness.

The Development of Chemistry Electronic Module Based on Guided Discovery Learning on Teaching Chemical Bonding

The COVID-19 pandemic had many impacts on education. The teaching and learning process was done through distance learning and was carried out online through several online platforms and media. This study aimed to produce an independent learning media for students in the form of an online module based on the Guided Discovery Learning model in the class on chemical bonding of class X in senior high school. This study used the methods outlined in Research and Development by Borg and Gall (2003) and followed the descriptive quantitative method. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire. The module was validated by three experts for content and language and also validated by three experts for media and graphics. The module was also trialled by 20 students in grade 10 science, 35 college students in the chemistry education program and 8 chemistry teachers. The ratings that were given by experts, students, and teachers from the validation and trial stages can be categorized as good and up to very good, so it can be concluded that the module is feasible to be used as a learning media on in the class on chemical bonding of class 10 in senior high school.
 Keywords: online module, guided discovery learning model, chemical bonding

Power, Performance, and Legitimacy

Abstract: Democracies today remain in a potent and protracted recession, and they have retreated from the ideological struggle against autocracy. We can renew the world's democratic momentum through power, performance, and legitimacy. Democracies must generate economic prosperity and opportunity while containing corruption, crime, and abuses of power, to reinvigorate support for democracy across regions and generations. Liberal democracies cannot be weak or retreat; they must exert their power to safeguard free and fair elections, independent media, and the rule of law. Nowhere in the world where dictatorships repress rights, censor information, and propagate disinformation can democracy be secure. Every defense of democracy is a source of inspiration and instruction. We must get serious again about promoting the values, experiences, requirements, and institutions of democracy. And we must do so on the scale, with the scope and ease of access in many languages, required to save it.

The <i>fake news</i> during the chilean social outbreak and the role of <i>fact checking</i> against disinformation

The objective of this research is to understand the impact generated by fake news on the political perception and critical thinking of citizens who receive information through social networks during the Social Outbreak in Chile, and to assess the value of new independent fact checking media created during the same period. The methodology employs a mixed approach with an exploratory scope, involving the creation of an assessment tool used to evaluate 95 subjects from the Biobío Region, Chile who assessed and categorized a news item as true or false. The primary findings reveal that participants perceive sharing fake news as a perilous action, and they hold the belief that fake news has the potential to alter political and social ideologies. In conclusion, assessing subjects' strategies for identifying fake news allows for the development of evaluation tools that promote data verification and enhance media literacy. This becomes crucial as the criteria for verification among active social network users are often low, indicating a level of credibility in published content without thorough scrutiny of data sources or acknowledgment of the risks associated with disseminating potentially false information.

Konstruksi Realitas Pengukuran Tanah di Wadas dalam Media Online Nasional (Analisis Framing Pemberitaan Isu Wadas di Tempo.co Periode 8-11 Februari 2022)

This research aims to examine the framing of online media coverage by Tempo.co regarding the agrarian land measurement case in Wadas during the period of February 8-11, 2022. The study employs a cognitive paradigm with a qualitative approach. The researchers utilize the Pan and Kosiscki framework model to analyze the media framing in ten online news texts from Tempo.co. In addition to using data from news texts, this research conducts interviews with the Tempo.co editorial team to understand the behind-the-scenes process of news coverage, as well as Tempo.co's framing and values. Through the process of analyzing using the Pan and Kosiscki framing model, Tempo.co exhibits a negative framing of the police actions in Wadas, highlighting police actions that violate human rights principles and emphasizing the conflict's impact on the residents.Insights from the interviews with Tempo.co reveal that the government's indiscriminate labeling of misinformation has a detrimental effect on the media's credibility and undermines the community's struggle to obtain their rights. As an independent media outlet, Tempo.co consistently upholds the standards of accurate, objective journalism that does not harm anyone.

Hypercommodification in Indonesian Mass Media and its Impact on Society: A Study and Suggestions

This research focuses on increasing the commodification of media products, the proliferation of consumerist values, and their impact on media content, ownership, and political discourse. The findings show that the hyper-commodification of society in Indonesia has led to significant changes in the mass media industry, focusing on profit-driven media products and decreasing independent and diverse media content. This research also highlights the need for media literacy and education initiatives to counteract the effects of consumerism and to promote critical and informed media consumption. Overall, this research sheds light on the complex and interrelated processes of commodification, consumerism and mass media, and their impact on Indonesian society and culture.

The Evolution of Government Intervention in the Mediterranean Media System: Spain, France, and Portugal

Based on the comparative analysis of the three Western media system models distinguished by Daniel Hallin and Paolo Mancini (2004), this article revisits their thesis of a tendency towards the convergence of the Mediterranean model and the Liberal model—in terms of the weakening of links between media institutions and the political sphere—two decades after it was first posited. By studying the degree and nature of state intervention in the media systems of Spain, France, and Portugal in the 21st century, the aim is to ascertain whether, within a context of growing political polarisation and shrinking journalistic industry income, the distinctive characteristics of the role of the state in the Mediterranean model remain the same or have changed—and in what sense. The contextualised analysis of Spanish, French, and Portuguese policies relating to public service media, independent audiovisual media regulatory bodies, media subsidies, and state advertising on the one hand allows us to question whether state intervention in Mediterranean media systems has weakened, thereby reaffirming the thesis of the importance of nation-states in media governance and the relevance of the comparative study of national media systems in the era of digital globalisation. And, on the other hand, it enables continuities, discontinuities, and differences between the three countries to be identified in relation to the logic of clientelism that Hallin and Mancini observed in their media policies in 2004, as well as some initial elements for their interpretation to be noted.

Derailing of Fourth Pillar of the Democracy and Future of Accountable, Transparent Democratic System

The fourth pillar of democracy, often referred to as the "Press" or "Media," plays a crucial role in upholding the principles of accountability and transparency within democratic societies. This paper explores the challenges faced by the media in contemporary times, leading to the potential derailment of its vital role. In the age of rapidly evolving technology and information dissemination, traditional journalism faces numerous threats, including misinformation, political interference, and economic pressures. The first section of the paper delves into the historical significance of the fourth pillar and its evolution over time. It highlights the essential role of a free and independent media in fostering an informed citizenry, holding the government accountable, and acting as a watchdog against corruption and abuse of power. The second section examines the contemporary challenges that threaten the integrity of the fourth pillar. The rise of digital platforms, social media, and the proliferation of fake news have significantly impacted the credibility of traditional journalism. Political interference, censorship, and attacks on journalists further exacerbate the erosion of media independence. The third section explores the consequences of a weakened fourth pillar on the democratic system. Diminished media freedom can lead to reduced government accountability, increased corruption, and a decline in public trust. The paper argues that the erosion of the fourth pillar poses a direct threat to the foundations of democracy itself. The final section outlines potential strategies and prospects for revitalizing and safeguarding the fourth pillar. This includes the promotion of media literacy, regulatory frameworks to counter misinformation, and international collaboration to protect journalists and media freedom. Additionally, fostering a diversified and sustainable media landscape is crucial for ensuring the continued vibrancy of the fourth pillar. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the critical importance of a robust fourth pillar in sustaining a healthy democratic system. It calls for collective efforts from governments, civil society, and the media industry to address the challenges and preserve the essential role of the media in promoting accountability, transparency, and a well-informed electorate. Only through concerted action can we hope to secure the future of a democratic system built on the principles of an independent and responsible press.

The Effect of Tiktok Social Media on Student Learning Achievement in Class VIII Informatics Subjects at SMP Negeri 22 Samarinda

The study aims to determine the effect of TikTok social media on student learning achievement in informatics subjects using correlational quantitative methods. Total of 82 respondents were used as the research sample who were seventh grade students of SMP Negeri 22 Samarinda with the top ten rankings. Data collection techniques using questionnaires, documentation and observation. The questionnaire instrument used a Likert scale. The analysis used normality test, linearity test, simple linear regression test and t test. The results of the partial regression significance test (t test) sig. variable X (TikTok Social Media) is 0.000 <0.05 and the t value is 8,188> t table 1. 99006, there is a significant influence of the independent variable TikTok social media (X) on the dependent variable learning achievement (Y), it can be concluded that Ha is accepted while Ho is rejected, there is a significant relationship between TikTok social media and learning achievement, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence between TikTok social media on student learning achievement in Class VIII Informatics subjects at SMP Negeri 22.

Pengaruh Media Sosial Marketing, Kepercayaan Dan Kualitas Produk Terhadap Kepuasan Pelanggan Produk Eiger Adventure Di Bintara

This research aims to determine the partial and simultaneous influence of the independent variables Social Media Marketing, Trust and Product Quality on the dependent variable Costomer Satisfaction of Eiger Adventure Products at Bintara. This type of research uses a quantitative approach. The population in this study has used Adventure Di Bintara products. This research uses an Accidental Sampling sampling technique using a questionnaire distributed to 114 respondents, then the data results are processed using the SPSS 26 data processing application. The research results show that in the partial t test the variables Social Media Marketing and Product Quality have a positive and significant effect on Customer Satisfaction. However, the Trust variable does not have a significant effect on Purchasing Decisions. The results of the f test show that the variables Social Media Marketing, Trust and Product Quality jointly or simultaneously influence customer satisfaction with the Eiger Adventure product at Bintara. However, the Trust variable does not have a significant effect on Purchasing Decisions. The results of the f test show that the variables Social Media Marketing, Trust and Product Quality jointly or simultaneously influence customer satisfaction with the Eiger Adventure product at Bintara.

Freedom of expression after disinformation: Towards a new paradigm for the right to receive information

ABSTRACT As part of the EU strategy to combat disinformation, the Media Freedom Act has introduced a right to have access to a plurality of editorially independent media content, marking progress beyond the current EU legal framework and ECHR case-law. This shift can be attributed to a heightened societal awareness of the impact of harmful expressions, an increasing focus on duties and responsibilities in human rights, and the disjunction of production and distribution in the digital media industry. This right appears to possess a distinctive horizontal and positive dimension, and ultimately consists of a right not to receive media content of such quality that hinders the democratic discourse.

ГРАНТИ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОГО ФОНДУ РОЗВИТКУ ДЕМОКРАТІЇ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

The article examines the grant opportunities of the European Endowment for Democracy for Ukraine. It is emphasized that this grant institution makes a significant contribution to supporting projects that focus on strengthening democratic values, democracy and the rule of law in Ukraine. It is emphasized that Ukrainian civil society organizations, democratic initiatives, activists, independent media and journalists who contribute to the development of a pluralistic and democratic political system in Ukraine can apply for a grant from the European Endowment for Democracy. It is demonstrated that the fund is loyal to those representatives of civil society who cannot find support from other donors. The study indicates that the main priorities of the European Endowment for Democracy are: anti-corruption and accountability, independent platforms and social media, civic engagement and participation, human rights activism and monitoring, women’s civic and political participation, inclusive society, sexual orientation and gender identity, arts and culture, and youth support. It is emphasized that grant funding from the European Endowment for Democracy in the amount of 10,000 to 150,000 euros is available for both registered organizations and informal groups, for political and social movements, and for individual activists, for organizations with experience and for newly established ones. The article demonstrates that the fund’s advantage is its flexibility in providing grants in emergency cases. The algorithm of participation of potential grantees in the fund’s grant competitions is presented and it is emphasized that the fund accepts applications without any deadlines throughout the year, reviewing them 4-6 times a year; applications for emergency funding can be considered outside the usual schedule. To summarize: the grants of the European Endowment for Democracy are an autonomous and additional tool for prompt and flexible provision of financial and technical support to democratization and human rights initiatives in European countries, including Ukraine. It is emphasized that the implementation of the projects funded by the Foundation will help Ukraine strengthen democratic institutions, increase public confidence in the government, and promote sustainable development.

Popular Propaganda: Audience Preferences for State and Independent Media in an Informational Autocracy

Popular Propaganda: Audience Preferences for State and Independent Media in an Informational Autocracy

Motivated reasoning and climate change: Comparing news sources, politicization, intensification, and qualification in denier versus believer subreddit comments

AbstractMotivated reasoning explains how climate change deniers can maintain their beliefs in the face of disconfirming evidence, suggesting that, compared to believers, the online comments of climate change deniers are more likely to (a) reference independent and social media websites advocating ideologically congruent positions, (b) politicize the issue, and (c) use intensifiers (e.g., definitely, undoubtedly). Automated text analysis of 156,844 comments from subreddit communities with opposing perspectives on climate change identified the internet domains associated with hyperlinks and the frequencies of political terms and intensifiers in user comments. Results were consistent with motivated reasoning by climate change deniers. In addition, climate change believers were more likely than deniers to use qualifiers in their comments.

Media culture as a factor of public opinion formation in small towns

Introduction. In the modern world, where the information environment is saturated with informational noise and mass means of communication, media culture acquires an important status in the formation of public opinion. This is especially true for small towns, as they may be remote from global media streams. Relevance and purpose. Media culture becomes a key tool for understanding and analyzing information included in public discourse and influences the formation of people’s consciousness and views. The purpose of the article is to study media culture as an important element of public opinion formation in small towns of Ukraine through the prism of identifying perspectives of influence and control. Methodology. Conceptual foundations for the study of modern media culture and its impact on the cultural and social structure of society were laid in foundational theories such as Marshall McLuhan’s «global village» and Alvin Toffler’s «future shock». Content analysis of scientific literature was also used as the main research method. Results. The influence of media culture on the formation of public opinion in small towns is extremely significant, especially due to the limited media space, which makes its influence even more significant. In such conditions, the media play a decisive role in the coverage of events at the local and national levels, as well as in the formation of the cultural and social identity of the community. The study emphasizes the importance of media self-regulation and the development of professional ethics to ensure objectivity and credibility of information. Financial support for independent media, local media and ensuring the confidentiality of sources are identified as critical factors for ensuring the quality of information services in small towns. Also, raising the level of media literacy is an important element, key to critical thinking and fact-checking. Therefore, initiatives and programs aimed at improving media literacy among residents of small towns are recognized as essential. Conclusions. Media culture is an important part of the socio-cultural development of small towns. Mass media play a key role in covering local or national events. For this reason, mechanisms of control over the manipulation of mass media are of particular importance. The work emphasizes the importance of media literacy among the population of small towns. Therefore, individual programs and initiatives can contribute to increasing the level of media literacy among residents of small towns.

An Economic Model of Media Ethics

Ethics and economic profits are considered to be trade-offs to one another. Akin to other disciplines, private media face the same dilemma. Pursuing more economic profit through increased viewership, advertising rates, or other practices usually comes at the cost of diminished ethical compliance. However, many studies highlight the importance of ethical guidelines in increasing revenues and profits in media organizations. This article aims to reconcile previous scholarship on the subject and develop an economic model of media ethics. The model is based on the literature and methodology of public economics, particularly that of public goods and externalities. It predicts that private media firms, when left to the perfectly competitive market, produce a greater quantity of news that may not be socially desirable and is of low quality and poor ethical compliance. When the social cost of producing ethical and quality media products is considered, the revenue of the private firms decreases, thereby suggesting an inverse relationship between ethical compliance and profits. This demands a case for libertarian paternalism, nudges, or incentives to restore private firms to the socially optimal equilibrium to ensure independent, ethical, free, and sustainable media.

Mediatization of Orthodoxy as a Research Field

The article is devoted to the analysis of the process of the mediatization of Orthodoxy. The mediatization of Orthodoxy is a new and relevant process that requires a revision of methodology and research tools in the humanities, namely in religious studies. Despite the ongoing revision of methodology and change of research focus, the mediatization of Orthodoxy remains a little-studied phenomenon with new trends emerging and the volume of research material is constantly increasing. Whilst more works on the topic are being published, as yet, they have not been systematized and clustered. This study is devoted to filling that gap. The aim of the article is to systematize Russian and foreign studies of the niche of mediatized Orthodoxy, which has formed over the past three decades. The study solves several problems: 1) to identify relevant works and define the current academic thought on theoretical conceptualization of the mediatization of religion; 2) to propose the author’s classification of thematic areas of research on the mediatization of Russian Orthodoxy, substantiate the potential and limitations of such classification; 3) to identify main directions of the interpretation of the process of the mediatization based on the description of the dynamics of the process; 4) specify commonalities and differences in the description of the stages and substantial components of the mediatization of Orthodoxy from the perspective of the existing approaches; 5) to investigate the research field of the mediatization of Orthodoxy using examples of mediatized Orthodox practices. The material used for the study was theoretical and empirical research, by both domestic and foreign authors, devoted to the mediatization of Orthodoxy and were created over the past fifteen years, starting with the appearance of the first work on the topic of digital Orthodoxy in 2009. The research methods included secondary analysis which resulted in the author’s classification of approaches to the interpretation of the mediatization of Orthodoxy; thematic and conceptual analysis, which enabled an attempt to give original theoretical and conceptual understanding of the process of mediatization of Orthodoxy, and to substantiate the identified stages of this process and its components. The author concludes that an independent Orthodox media niche formed fifteen years ago which now sees a quantitative and qualitative increase in the number of publications devoted to the mediatization of Orthodoxy. Research of the phenomenon comprises macro and micro levels: theoretical conceptualization of the process and local mediatization of communicative practices of dioceses, catechists and preachers, respectively. Including research into the study of mediatization of Orthodoxy and the new media, and the study of the mediatization of Orthodox conservatism. The dramatic development of the theory of mediatization of religion demonstrates the inconsistency of the dominant concept of secularization and requires further research.

Biopolitical media discourse in France in the COVID-19 pandemics

The publication activities of the French media during the COVID-19 pandemic in a biopolitical way are analyzed. The theoretical frame of the study is set by Michel Foucault's concept of biopolitics, as well as the propaganda model of Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky. To collect and analyze empirical data, the methods of computational linguistics and the method of identifying contextual ideologemes were applied. The research materials were the texts of independent media (Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Parisien), identified using the keywords “pandemic” and “COVID-19” during the four waves of the pandemic (from January 2020 to March 2022). A total of 29,584 Le Figaro articles, 22,446 Le Monde articles, and 6,402 Le Parisien articles were used in the research. The purpose of the research is to analyze the strategies for including the French media in the biopolitical practices of propaganda and public education on the example of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the research, it turned out that the studied media during the pandemic were integrated both into general information campaigns and into biopolitical education and propaganda campaigns. Two scenarios for organizing media discourse during the pandemic of COVID-19 were identified, determined by target groups and media tasks. The first scenario actively involves educational and propaganda tools to promote state biopolitical goals. The second scenario integrates informing readers about the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures used by the authorities for biopolitical control, with the presentation of the hierarchies of responsible persons/ institutions (within the state biopolitics). It is concluded that the participation of French independent media in the active promotion of biopolitical programs indicates their close connection with the actors and subjects of biopolitics - the state or business representatives.

РОЛЬ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ КОМУНІКАЦІЙ У ПРОТИСТОЯННІ ВИКЛИКАМ РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ВІЙНИ

<p><strong><em>The purpose of the study </em></strong><em>is to identify the main problems that complicate the role of social communications in confronting the challenges of the full-scale russian-ukrainian war and to propose ways to solve them in order to build a stable and harmonious society.</em></p><p><strong><em>Research methodology.</em></strong><em> Using the method of critical analysis, the role of social communications in confronting the challenges of the war with russia was analyzed and their importance for building a stable and harmonious society was determined. In the process of information synthesis, the problems that complicate social communications during the war are highlighted. Recommendations for solving these problems were developed using the methods of induction and deduction.</em></p><p><strong><em>The results.</em></strong><em> The article is devoted to the coverage and analysis of the role of social communications in confronting the challenges of the russian-ukrainian war. The relevance of the study is determined by the need for balanced information and support of citizens, as well as the need to fight disinformation and other challenges of war.</em></p><p><em>According to the results of the study, it was established that social communications play a critical role in confronting the challenges of the war in Ukraine. They create an information base, promote mobilization, shape public opinion, and psychologically support citizens and the military. At the same time, social communications are complicated by a number of problems, such as disinformation and fakes, censorship and restrictions on freedom of speech, psychological pressure and threats to journalists and activists, information overload, lack of access to information for certain population groups. Solving these problems requires increasing the level of media literacy of the population, protecting journalists and activists, developing independent mass media and hybrid media, encouraging transparency, and involving the international community.</em></p><p><strong><em>Novelty.</em></strong><em> The study reveals the complex problems of using social communications in confronting the challenges of the war in Ukraine, and also provides specific recommendations for overcoming these problems in the process of building a stable and harmonious society.</em></p><p><strong><em>The practical significance</em></strong><em> of the research lies in the possibility of applying the obtained results to improve the effectiveness of social communications in the conditions of war in Ukraine, strengthening public order and national unity.</em></p><p><strong><em>Key</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>words:</em></strong><em> social communications, communication trends, social networks, fakes, media literacy.</em></p>

Pengembangan Modul Ajar Berbasis Flip HTML 5 pada Mata Pelajaran PDTM di Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Negeri 2 Banda Aceh

This study aims to develop teaching modules in the form of learning modules at vocational schools in Banda Aceh. This research applies the R&D development model in the field of education in accordance with the 4D model reference which was carried out in FY 2022/2023 even semester. The 4D model steps include steps or stages which include, defining, designing, developing, and disseminating stages. Research data were obtained using a validation sheet in the form of a questionnaire. Data analysis used in the form of quantitative descriptive statistics, namely examining data by describing the data collected. The results of this module development research were declared feasible to be used as independent learning media for students, based on the results of the validity of the material experts obtained a final value of V of 0.842 and media experts of 0.909 with valid criteria. Based on the results of the assessment of the validity of the developed module, it can be concluded that the PDTM learning module for class X Machining Engineering developed is suitable for use as an additional learning medium for students.