Reality Construction Of Print Media

SCIENTIFIC PAPER

REALITY CONSTRUCTION OF PRINT MEDIA

FRAMING ANALYSIS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR STAND-OFF COVERAGE ON KOMPAS AND REPUBLIKA DAILY NEWSPAPERS

Designed by:

Shinta Anindhita

K1C02114

Communication Management

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE

PADJADJARAN UNIVERSITY

2006

CONTENTS

PREFACE .......................................................................... iii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER 2 REALITY CONSTRUCTION AND FRAMING 10

2.1 Reality Construction of Media ...................... 10

2.2 Framing Analysis ....................................... 12

CHAPTER 3 FRAMING ANALYSIS APPLICATION

ON KOMPAS AND REPUBLIKA 18

3.1 Trancedental Humanism, Kompas' Philosophy.. 18

3.2 Islamic Press of Republika ........................... 20

3.3 Media Frame Comparation .......................... 24

CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION 26

REFERENCES .................................................................... 28

ATTACHMENTS

PREFACE

A great power makes a great responsibility. This phrase should be the philosophy of the works of mass media. The ability to select, pack, and write an issue based on the informative use is often influenced by abstract interests which coloured the news-making process. The public is unconsciously driven into a certain way of thinking as a result of media professionals' competency in putting a message forward. This thing triggers a demand of responsibility of the media power.

This paper is written in order to show the works of mass media in constructing reality on people's mind. Apart from theoretical descriptions, this paper also includes an example of framing process of an issue by two mass media, in this case print media, so that the paper readers might be able to understand the application of framing itself.

The target of this paper is users or potential users of mass media, intellectuals, media professionals, or people in general who wish to know more on reality construction process by the media.

I would like to thank Allah SWT for the blessings and also for the people who have been very supportive on the making of this paper; Drs. Antar Venus, the lecturers of the Faculty of Communication Science at the University of Padjadjaran, fellow students at the Communication Management field of study, and related parties which could not be mentioned one by one.

During the writing process, I realize that there are flaws on this paper so that critics and suggestions are welcomed in order to provide more information for a more improved paper in the future.

Hopefully this paper could deliver its benefit.

Bandung, May 2006

Shinta Anindhita

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

In the last few months, Iran's nuclear programme has been a major issue of several mass media, both print and electronic. The case itself started when Iran decided to continue its uranium enrichment - a process needed to produce a controlled reaction for nuclear fuel, for its civilian nuclear energy programme, as it is entitled to do under the terms of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. NPT is an agreement between 188 countries, including Iran, to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. Article IV of the treaty mentions that "All the Parties to the Treaty undertake to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials, and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy".

At a United Nations high-level summit, the newly-elected president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmdinejad stated that Iran had the right to develop a civil nuclear-power programme within the terms of the treaty, which is gaining more electricity for the Iranians. He offered a compromise solution in which foreign companies will be permitted to invest and participate in this programme, thus ensuring that it could not be secretly used to make weapons.

The United States refused this argument by leaving during the speech, even if the mission denied there was a walkout. Their official position on the issue is that "a nuclear-armed Iran is not acceptable" and all options - including the unilateral use of force and fist-strike nuclear weapons are on the table. Even if Iran is truthfully continuing the effort for peoples' benefit, the controversial remarks, which President Ahmadinejad often used, were not helpful to show its good intention. His opinions about "the occupying regime in [Israel/Palestine should] be wiped off the map" and a denial in Holocaust is perceived as a negative attitude.

On the other side, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's cleric stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran, based on its fundamental religious and legal beliefs, would never resort to the use of weapons of mass destruction. In contrast to the propaganda of our enemies, fundamentally we are against any production of weapons of mass destruction in any form". An Israeli nuclear technician, Mordechai Vanunu, agrees this argument. He believes that under the control of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Iran does not pose any threat. Iran is very much transparent on its nuclear programme, which is contrary to Israel that does not let anyone enter its nuclear facilities.

These are the crucial moments during the dispute on Iran's nuclear programme,