COMMENTATE: Journal of Communication Management

Public Space for Disabled Students in Higher Education

2024-11-16T19:42:55+00:00

Students with disabilities have been treated discriminative practices in their space of movement in society, including on campus. The facilities available on campus do not yet reflect the concept of public space as a manifestation of democracy. The purpose of this study was to identify the experiences and meanings of disabled students related to the public spaces available on campus. The study used a qualitative approach, and utilized interviews with five research subjects, four of whom were disabled students, and one of Commissioner with disabilities. Observation was the method for triangulation. The study showed that public spaces were designed without considering aspects of accessibility, comfort, and safety for disabled students. This resulted in a strong awareness that they were marginalized and ignored in the public space policy process. The study also showed the importance of take notice to a several elements in the process of building a fair and equal public space, by prioritizing the principle of participation that show interest to aspects of social inclusion and no party is ignored in the process. For this reason, collaborative cooperation is needed between the campus by encouraging the government to form regulations to develop public spaces. The stakeholders involved first are people with disabilities, in collaboration with campus stakeholders and other civil society organizations.

Two-Way Symmetrical Model in Enhancing Inclusivity

2024-11-17T08:44:43+00:00

Inclusivity in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, is starting to become a visible issue and is starting to be noticed. This issue is not only from a social perspective, but also from a work perspective. Jobs are now starting to employ people with disabilities, but the number is not large and there are still many people who are not used to interacting with people with disabilities because of the social stigma related to disability. This study explores the role of public relations in promoting inclusivity and fostering engagement between deaf employees and customers at Sunyi Coffee, a socially conscious café in Indonesia. Guided by the Two-Way Symmetrical Model, the research analyzes gaps in interactions and provides actionable recommendations for future strategies. Using qualitative methods, including interviews, observations, and case analysis, this study emphasizes the importance of open communication in building a vibrant and inclusive digital community. The findings offer practical insights for organizations aiming to enhance inclusivity and customer relationships through digital platforms.

Empowering Indonesia's Local Brands

2024-12-03T08:11:49+00:00

This study highlights how Public Relations (PR) practitioners assist Indonesia's local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the souvenir printing business for various needs. The products created by the local MSME named Ruaya are used by their clients to design digital campaigns aimed at developing better branding strategies and increasing customer awareness in marketing efforts. "The research focuses on two main issues: integrating the Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT) into Ruaya’s product branding and promotion, and developing strategies for employee training and leadership as the company transitions from traditional to digital media for branding and promotion." The aim of this paper is to develop strategies that Ruaya can adopt to effectively utilize social media for creating branding strategies that enhance brand awareness and attract new consumers. Additionally, the research focuses on building employee capacity by leveraging CDT as a communication tool to promote active online engagement, adopting niche marketing strategies, and establishing a unique identity for Ruaya. The strategies suggested by PR practitioners to Ruaya’s management include consistently creating video content with storytelling elements, planning content regularly, and collaborating with influencers. The novelty of this qualitative research lies in the exploration of CDT utilization, highlighting its role in three aspects: leadership, marketing, and content strategy.

Audience Interpretation of Masculine Domination of Female Superhero Characters

2024-11-26T17:28:22+00:00

This research explores how audiences interpret messages about masculine dominance in the portrayal of female superhero characters in the film Captain Marvel, emphasizing its elements of female masculinity. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach within an interpretive paradigm, the study applies Stuart Hall’s reception analysis method focusing on encoding and decoding. Audience interpretations are categorized into three hypothetical positions: dominant-hegemonic, negotiated, and oppositional. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with six informants (three male, three female) selected via purposive sampling to ensure diversity and familiarity with the film. Preliminary interviews were followed by main interviews, during which six scenes were presented for interpretation. The collected data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to determine the informants' positions. The findings show that audience interpretations of female masculinity in Captain Marvel are shaped by their individual experiences, knowledge, and backgrounds, leading to varied understandings of the film’s messages. These interpretations place informants within one of the three categories, with most audiences accepting the majority of the preferred readings.