Indonesian Online Media Construction of American Elected President, Donald Trump

Authors

Abstract

The study aims to look at how online media in Indonesia construct Donald Trump's image as the elected president of the United States of America (USA). This research is a qualitative descriptive study using transnational American studies and historical approaches which also employs framing and media construction of reality theory. Framing and media construction of reality are employed to see how the media construct Trump's image to affect the Indonesian readers in terms of perceiving the image of Trump. The transnational study is used to see how the USA has influenced foreign countries, focusing on Indonesia. The inauguration of the USA’s president is significant for the Indonesian media and society and therefore, there is an impending need to review and drive opinions on the construction of Trump's image. In contrast, the historical approach is used to see how the media associate Trump with the history in the USA. Two online media: Kompas and Media Indonesia, provide the research data. The sample was taken from articles published a week before and a week after his inauguration address on January 20th, 2017. The finding shows that there are six issues used as frames in both of the online newspapers. They are (1) the consequences of Trump's appointment, (2) rejection of Trump’s leadership, (3) Trump vs. Obama, (4) Trump and the media, (5) Trump’s concept of Make America Great Again (MAGA), and (6) the celebration of Trump’s inauguration. Trump is constructed as a popular figure through his rhetoric. His capability as a president is, however, questioned. Keywords: Media construction of reality, President Trump, online news, transnational studies, American studies. https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2022-3801-04

Author Biographies

Muhammad Taufiq Al Makmun, Universitas Sebelas Maret

Muhammad Taufiq al Makmun is currently a teacher on American Studies courses at the English department, Universitas Sebelas Maret in Solo, Indonesia. He holds a Master’s degree from the Utrecht University, the Netherlands (American Cultural Influence), and ever enrolled School of Continuing Education to take American Studies Courses at Columbia University, New York, the US while teaching the Indonesian language and culture in the university. He is now a Fulbright scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in American Culture Studies program, Bowling Green State University, the U.S.

Karunia Purna Kusciati, Universitas Sebelas Maret

Karunia Purna Kusciati is a teaching staff at English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Indonesia. She teaches American Studies courses. She earned her Postgraduate Program from Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia majoring in American Studies. Her major interests include (Pop) Cultural Studies, Media Studies, and Visual Studies.

Fenty Kusumastuti, Universitas Sebelas Maret

Fenty Kusumastuti is a teaching staff in the English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Indonesia. Her major interests are Translation, Language, and Culture. She is graduated from the Postgraduate Study of Universitas Sebelas Maret, majoring in Applied Linguistics, Translation. She is an awardee of the MOE Scholarship and currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature and Cross-Cultural Studies program, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan.

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Published

2022-03-31

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 1 (2022)

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