Bandung, 2025 – Yadi Heriadi Hendriana, a student from the Library and Information Science (PSI) Study Program at Fikom Unpad, along with a team of supporting lecturers, has published a scientific article titled “Polarization of Journalists’ Attitudes Regarding State Bonds to Press Freedom and Media Continuity.” This publication thoroughly examines the crucial issue of the dynamic relationship between media and the government, particularly amid a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research is a collaboration between the student and PSI Fikom Unpad lecturers, including Prof. Dr. Dadang Rahmat Hidayat, S.Sos., S.H., M.Si., Prof. Agus Rusmana, and Dr. Hj. Nuryah Asri Sjafirah, M.Si. This cooperation demonstrates a strong synergy between students and faculty in producing relevant scientific work with significant social impact.
The background of this research stems from the extraordinary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only damaged the health sector but also paralyzed various aspects of life, including the media industry. A drastic decline in advertising revenue forced many media outlets to cut salaries, lay off employees, and even declare bankruptcy. As a result, the government intervened by providing financial assistance, which, while intended to save the media, had the potential to threaten press autonomy.
Using a qualitative methodology and a critical paradigm, the study analyzes primary and secondary data collected through in-depth interviews with journalists and media stakeholders, as well as a comprehensive document study. This approach allowed the researchers to gain a deep understanding of the complexity of the power relationship between the government and the media.
The findings indicate that the collaboration between the case-study television station and the Indonesian government during the pandemic, although beneficial to both parties, ultimately created a power dynamic that threatened media independence. The article offers a critical perspective on how government aid, which should be a solution, could become a hidden threat to press freedom.
This highly relevant article was published in the Journal of Ecohumanism, a widely recognized scientific journal. The research is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, and Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth. With this publication, Fikom Unpad once again affirms its role in contributing to an important public discourse.
This publication is not only a proud academic achievement for Yadi and the lecturer team but also a crucial warning for the media industry and policymakers. The sustainability of the media should not come at the cost of press freedom, and this research provides a strong foundation for further discussion on how the media can survive without sacrificing its journalistic integrity.
Writer: Ridha Amalia, Nadziva Shaqeena, dan Annisa Dwi Fajriyah.
