Social Movements in Framing Perspectives: A Study on Corruption Case Issues in Indonesia

Abstract

This research looks at social movement by using framing perspective. Two theories are used, namely framing theory and social movement theory. This research uses the case study method, i.e.: instrumental case study. The cases analyzed in this study are 10 important cases pertaining to the dispute between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police (Polri) between 2009 and 2012. Data is collected through observation, in-depth interviews, documents review, and text analysis. This study shows that there is no special effort from pro-KPK movements’ actors (i.e.: the public relations of KPK) to approach or influence the media in order to have their version of news circulated more in the media. This findings proves that the success of social movements in the KPK-Polri disputes, where the news reports in the media predominantly support the KPK, is not due to the success of social movement actors in approaching the media, but rather because of the congruence of values between the journalists and social movement actors. Results of this study have implications for theories on the relationship between frames, media and social movements. The researcher proposes a model to portray the connection between the actors of social movements, media/journalists, media framing, and audience framing. This model is a development of the model proposed by Gamson, Scheufele, Benford, and Snow.