Local Press Control in Implementation of Environmental and City Policy in Kendari City, Indonesia

Umar Marhum, Jufri Dewa, Jamal Bake, Najib Husein

Abstract: This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach in explaining the function of local press control in news framing of the Kendari bay reclamation policy implementation. The results of the study revealed that the local press as a public information media, had not yet carried out its control function in presenting a news frame about the beach reclamation policy of Kendari City. The direction of the news tends to favor the interests of the local authorities and does not advocate for the interests of the surrounding community. Local press reporting that is not critical of the reclamation policy makes the city government more free to carry out sea fill activities that cause siltation, sea water pollution, disruption of marine life, and have an impact on major flooding every rainy season even though the rainfall intensity is not high.

Keywords: press, policy, framing, environment