COMMENTATE: Journal of Communication Management

Navigating Digital Political PR Law and Ethics:

Fathiyyah Maryufani, Dean Carl Jackson — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the ethical and regulatory frameworks guiding political public relations (PR) in the United States and Indonesia through document analysis of professional codes and legal regulations. Comparing the PRSA Code of Ethics (U.S.) and the PERHUMAS Code (Indonesia), the study reveals key differences rooted in political and cultural contexts. PRSA emphasizes individual rights, transparency, and free speech, aligning with liberal-democratic values. In contrast, PERHUMAS prioritizes national interest, cultural harmony, and social stability, reflecting Indonesia’s collectivist and developmentalist orientation. Despite differing emphases, both codes lack specific ethical standards for political PR. This absence creates a grey zone where political communicators operate with limited guidance, risking the spread of disinformation, emotional manipulation, and public distrust. Regulatory documents in both countries also fall short: U.S. electoral laws focus on campaign finance and media fairness but overlook ethical conduct in strategic messaging. Indonesia’s regulations, while emphasizing national unity and public order, offer minimal oversight of political PR practices and are shaped by informal power structures. The findings show that both systems rely on voluntary compliance and self-regulation, with weak enforcement mechanisms. However, Indonesia’s context, marked by populism and digital transformation, makes the lack of clear ethical and regulatory frameworks particularly urgent. This article argues for the development of targeted ethical standards and stronger regulatory clarity to ensure accountability and uphold democratic values in political communication.

Pengaruh Interaktivitas Terhadap Interaksi Sosial Konten YouTube Windah Basudara Pada Khalayak Remaja

Mariko Rizkiansyah, Prada Hafiz Mahardika, Ani Berta — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Interaktivitas adalah elemen penting dalam media baru seperti YouTube, yang memungkinkan pengguna berkomunikasi aktif melalui fitur interaktif, seperti kolom komentar. Penelitian ini berfokus pada kanal YouTube gaming "Windah Basudara," yang dikenal interaktif dengan audiensnya, khususnya remaja. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengidentifikasi hubungan antara interaktivitas kanal tersebut dengan interaksi sosial audiensnya, serta mengetahui dimensi interaktivitas yang paling memengaruhi aspek social support, friendship, dan intimacy. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan survei terhadap 402 responden remaja berusia 12-25 tahun, yang diambil melalui purposive sampling dari grup Facebook "Fans Windah Basudara" dan akun X (Twitter) @nocontextwindah. Metode yang digunakan mencakup analisis regresi linear sederhana dan korelasi Spearman Rank dengan bantuan software SPSS 25. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan hubungan signifikan dan positif antara interaktivitas dan interaksi sosial (R = 0,649; p < 0,05). Dimensi connectedness memiliki pengaruh terbesar terhadap social support (R = 0,481), sedangkan playfulness memiliki pengaruh terendah terhadap intimacy (R = 0,267). Interaktivitas hanya menyumbang 39,9% terhadap interaksi sosial, sementara 60,1% dipengaruhi oleh faktor lain di luar penelitian ini. Kesimpulan, penelitian menyatakan bahwa interaktivitas pada kanal "Windah Basudara" berkontribusi signifikan terhadap interaksi sosial, dengan connectedness sebagai dimensi dominan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan dukungan sosial audiens. Sebaliknya, dimensi playfulness kurang memengaruhi kebutuhan intimacy. Penelitian ini mendukung pentingnya indikator interaktivitas dalam konten YouTube, seperti yang disarankan dalam penelitian sebelumnya. Studi lanjutan disarankan untuk mengeksplorasi faktor-faktor lain yang memengaruhi interaksi sosial di luar interaktivitas, serta menggunakan metode kualitatif untuk memberikan wawasan yang lebih mendalam, misalnya dengan wawancara atau observasi terhadap audiens dan kreator konten.

The Romance Between NCTzen and NCT

Hasna Qhotrunnadaa Salijar, Ni Made Ras Amanda Gelgel, Ade Devia Pradipta — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to understand how NCT's romance is commodified through the Bubble application. It employs a qualitative approach with a constructivist perspective. Informants were chosen based on their availability and willingness. Data were gathered from two sources: primary and secondary. Primary data were collected through interviews with informants and participant observation on the Bubble app, while secondary data were derived from relevant previous literature. The research data were analyzed in several stages: data reduction, data presentation, conclusion drawing, and verification. The study found that SM Entertainment, the media owner, recognizes the desire of NCTZen to have a closer connection with NCT. Consequently, SM Entertainment engages in three forms of commodification through the Bubble application: romantic content, labor, and audience. This commodification results in significant benefits for SM Entertainment due to the loyalty of NCTZen towards NCT.

Influence of Instagram Clothing Advertisements on the Purchase Decision of Female Youths

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study explored the impact of Instagram clothing advertisements on the purchasing decisions of female youths aged 18–35 years in Nigeria. Guided by the Reception Theory, the study employed a survey research design, distributing structured questionnaires to 385 respondents selected via stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed to evaluate the frequency of Instagram use for clothing ads, the platform's appropriateness as an advertising medium, and strategies for effective clothing advertisements targeting female youths. The findings revealed that while Instagram is widely used for viewing and engaging with clothing advertisements, this interaction does not strongly translate into actual purchases. Most respondents cited product quality, price and brand reputation as key factors influencing their purchase decisions. Additionally, the study found that Instagram advertisements significantly enhance fashion trend awareness and inspire new styles among young women. However, their direct influence on purchase behavior is moderated by economic factors such as income and affordability. This study highlights the critical role of product characteristics and pricing strategies in shaping consumer choices within the social media landscape. The findings emphasize the need for advertisers to bridge the gap between high engagement rates and purchase conversions through targeted and incentive-driven advertising strategies.

Challenges and Strategies in Addressing Fake News in the Digital Age

Budi Nugraha, Ira Purwitasari — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fake news is a major challenge in modern journalism in this digital era. Although mainstream media have strict journalistic standards, they can inadvertently popularize fake news. Mainstream media can also increase public exposure to fake news through moral efforts to correct incorrect reporting. This article highlights fake news mitigation practices in Indonesian mainstream media through a literature review approach of previous research and direct observation of eight online news media: detiknews, kompas.com, liputan6.com, okezone, republika, sindonews, tempo.co, and tribunnews.com. The results of the study show that online media are aware of the importance of maintaining credibility amidst the rapid flow of digital information, the balance between meeting readers' information needs instantly and maintaining news credibility, media awareness of the importance of digital literacy among the public, and the importance of maintaining morality amidst online media competition. Several suggestions are given so that mainstream media are better able to improve their quality by reporting high-quality news and preventing fake news from spreading in the community.