Terrorism and Multiculturalism Issues in the Frame of the Mass Media in Indonesia

This research sought to reveal how mass media in Indonesia frame terrorism and multiculturalism issues regarded to the need of the terrorists to make use of the media to publicize their acts. The purposes of the terrorism acts vary. They might be intended to get attention, to demonstrate their ability, to demolish the government image, to scare people, or to get support for their objectives. Their acts, definitely, will not be "echoed" unless they are publicized by the mass media. Publicity is like the oxygen for the terrorists. They certainly need a stage to show off their acts and it is the publicity of the media. By using Robert N. Entman's framing model, ten news published in Kompas newspaper were analyzed. Based on the results of data analysis, it is revealed that Kompasnewspaper views terrorism as a very dangerous threat so that revising theregulations is regarded as the most feasible solution. In terms of mass media's stance, multiculturalism issues are supposed to be the appropriate concept for the pluralism of Indonesia.