Hegemoni Media dalam Dinamika Politik di Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the mechanisms of media hegemony in Indonesia, in which the media function not only as instruments of information but also as tools of influence and power capable of shaping the collective consciousness of society through the construction of narratives and public opinion. The shift in media orientation constitutes one of the important elements in this study, as it reflects efforts to shape public opinion and influence political dynamics and power relations in Indonesia. Through the concept of media hegemony based on the ideas of Antonio Gramsci, this article elaborates on media hegemony within the dynamics of politics in Indonesia. This study is a library research employing a descriptive qualitative approach with secondary data sources. The findings indicate that media in Indonesia tend to be controlled by media owners who also function as party elites. This condition not only creates a shift in media orientation but also involves broadcasting violations, which are made possible because the media function as instruments of hegemony for the political interests of the media-owning parties. However, due to the development of digital media and the internet, the public sphere is not entirely dominated by party-affiliated media conglomerates. In this context, digital media or social media serve as alternative media for the public. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is that media hegemony exercised by party-affiliated conglomerates remains debatable and is not always absolute, given the existence of alternative media and social media. Consequently, this study contributes to enriching the literature on media hegemony within political dynamics.