“Reading The Jakarta Post.Reception Theory: Towards An Anthropological View”

Presented in:

Reception in Journalism: Theory and PracticeA FICOM/Universitas Pancasilla Seminar

March 14, 2013

Jonathan Zilberg, Ph.D.Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah

YOU!

How Do You Read The News – If You Do?

That is The Question

In Short, I Ask You This:

How You Read and How You React to What You Read -

IS THAT NOT EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE?

Reading The Jakarta Post

First: Five General Questions

1. How do you read, watch or listen to the media - if you do?

2. What do you systematically pay attention to - if anything?

3. How closely do you do so, and if so - how often and how critically?

4. What effect does it have on you?

5. How do you use the information that matters to you?

Second: As You React to The Following Data

Repeatedly Ask Yourself These Three Questions

Are your reactions to issues of concern to you not remarkably predetermined?

How are you similar and different in these matters to those in your immediate family and amongst your peers?

Is the news that you pay attention to, your reaction to it and the manner of reporting it in your chosen news format and outlet – all, to a major degree - not a self-confirming ideological device for journalist, reader and editor alike?

Assess Yourself on These Six Recent Micro-Data Sets from The Jakarta Post

1. The Duty to Circumcise Muslim Women2. The Straddling By-Law in Aceh3. The Official Reaction to The Human Rights Watch Report 4. The Reactions To “A Nation of Liars, Cheats and Thieves”5. Jupe, Devi, Lady Gaga and Rhoma Iroma6. The Reason for the Smile of the Unnamed Lady Above

Towards Tentative Conclusion

Is Your Identity Not Well Measured by What News You Read, How You Receive/Interpret It, How You Use It and Thus How it Confirms and Re-Confirms Your Identity?

If Media is the Extension of Man, then how do we re-visit Marshall McLuhan by way of the likes of Chomsky and Zizek in the context of the issues we have each reacted to in our own ways today?

Huh!!! Who the heck is Zizek?

See what I mean FIKOM students?Listen to Prof. Andi – Baca, Baca, Baca!

YOU ARE WHAT AND HOW YOU READ –

NEVER MIND WHAT YOU WRITE, SAY and DO!

So Let’s Go Back To The Beginning :Who Is She and Why Is She Smiling?

How do you know?

Because of the Media!In this case – The Jakarta Post

Thank You

And Remember – As regards the core question at hand for this panel

“Is news only top down?”

My Answer - Bottoms Up!

And if you don’t believe me – Ask Jupe or Joop.