News Framing in the Digital Era Based on Moderate Islamic News Portals within the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic Community

Abstract

Moderate Islam remains a fundamental pillar in the understanding of Islamic institutions in Indonesia. Radical revolutionism, which is often associated with extremist views, is firmly rejected by Nahdlatul Ulama. With the rapid advancement of digital technology, news portals have become the primary platform for disseminating news that reflects the values of moderate Islam promoted by Nahdlatul Ulama. In this regard, nu.or.id serves as an online news platform utilized by this group to spread its moderate Islamic perspectives. Technological transformations have reshaped the concept and context of journalism in the digital era, leading to the emergence of digital journalism. Entman’s (1993) framing model is re-evaluated in this study, as its framework does not incorporate digital-oriented elements in news reporting. Data collection was conducted through a qualitative content analysis of 30 news articles based on Entman’s (1993) four framing functions: problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and treatment recommendation. In the framing process, nu.or.id adheres to the principle of Islam as a religion of peace. Regarding problem definition, terrorism and anti-violence issues are the most dominant themes in the news content. In terms of causal interpretation, radicalism is framed as the primary factor causing the fragmentation of the Muslim community. For moral evaluation, the principles of moderation and ukhuwah (brotherhood) are emphasized as key messages in the news narratives. Regarding treatment recommendations, the use of media for dakwah (Islamic preaching) is considered a crucial approach to spreading moderate Islamic values. This study implies that the dissemination of moderate Islam in news reporting is inevitable in constructing narratives that align with organizational values and principles. The findings also contribute to the development of Entman’s framing theory in the context of digital journalism, highlighting the need for a more effective framework suited to the digital era. Practically, managing moderate Islamic news dissemination through online platforms allows for the rapid spread of peaceful Islamic values in society