KnE Social Sciences

Published date: Jul 15 2025

Journal Title: KnE Social Sciences

Issue title: The International Conference on Da'wah & Communication 2024 (ICDComm 2024)

Pages: 147–155

DOI: 10.18502/kss.v10i14.19082

Hasanuddin Muhammaduddinm@radenintan.ac.idFaculty of Sharia, Raden Intan State Islamic University, Lampung

The discourse of banning investigative journalists in changes to the draft law on public broadcasting has given rise to various criticisms, coming from various parties who did not agree with it. This prohibition is considered a form of restraint on press freedom. In fact, politically, press freedom is a mandate for reform and a pillar of democracy. This article examines two things: What form of criticism does the discourse on prohibiting investigative journalists in the Public Broadcasting Law Draft take? What is the relevance of this criticism to a critical theory of communication? This is library research, and the data sources used are secondary resources in the form of documents published in online media. Data were collected using documentation techniques, namely taking document data from online media by entering keywords on the digital platform and then reading and selecting those that were relevant to the research problem. The theory used is the critical theory of communication, which emphasizes the criticism of power structures and domination in society. The research results show that criticism of the discourse on prohibiting investigative journalists in the Public Broadcasting Law Draft came from politicians, press organizations and academics. According to TB Hasanuddin, a Member of the DPR RI from the PDI-P faction, a ban on investigative journalists could suppress democracy. According to Nani Afrida, who is the General Chair of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, a prohibition on investigative journalists can silence the press. According to Jaduk Gilang Pembayun, the ban on investigative journalists is a form of limitation on the activities and movements of the media. In the context of the critical theory of communication, the discourse regarding the ban on investigative journalists is a form of control over journalists’ activities. Furthermore, it disseminates a democratic ideology that supports the current power structure.

Keywords: investigative journalism, press freedom, public broadcasting law

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