Indonesia-Malaysian Border Issues: National Online Media Coverage in Malaysia and Indonesia During 2010-2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26740/jsm.v10n1.p266-295Keywords:
Online Media, Covering, Border Issue, Indonesia, MalaysiaAbstract
This study analyzes how online media in Malaysia and Indonesia cover long-standing border issues that have shaped diplomatic tensions since 1957. While prior research has examined historical and political dimensions, limited attention has been given to how the media frames these issues across agenda-setting levels over time. Using quantitative content analysis and sentiment analysis based on three-level agenda-setting theory, this research examines national online media, Tempo.co, Tribunnews, and Republika (Indonesia), and Malaysiakini and Astro Awani (Malaysia)—from 2010 to 2022. Data were collected through web scraping of headlines and leads, followed by sentiment classification and word cloud visualization.Findings reveal three key patterns. First, negative tones dominate coverage, indicating strong issue salience at the first level of agenda setting. Second, media emphasize military and security approaches over cultural, educational, and economic aspects, reflecting second-level attribute prioritization. Third, there is a notable imbalance in coverage intensity, with Indonesian media producing significantly more border-related content than Malaysian media.These results contribute to understanding how online media operationalize agenda-setting in Southeast Asia and highlight the importance of promoting peace-oriented journalism in reporting international border disputes
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