Digital Media, Public Pressure, and Corruption Exposure: An Investigative Journalism Perspective
Abstract
Background: Digital media has changed the practice of investigative journalism significantly, particularly in exposing corruption by public officers. Digital platforms have been built to enhance access to information and to involve the public. Purpose: The objective of this study is to examine the role of digital investigative journalism in exposing corruption from the perspective of digital media, public pressure and institutional accountability. Methods: This research employs qualitative method through literature study and instrumental case study in corruption case of Rafael Alun Trisambodo. The data were collected by analysis of documents of scientific literature, research reports and digital media sources. Results: The results of this study show that digital investigative journalism can accelerate the accumulation of evidence and improve the capability to set the agenda in the construction of public discourse. The intersection of open source intelligence, AI and big data facilitates journalists to better find obscure patterns and networks, while crowd-based investigations offer citizens a better chance to find corruption. We can observe that, in the analyzed cases, digital media also play an important role in the transformation of social events into opportunities for uncovering corruption. Misinformation, cyber attacks, issues of ethics, and gaps in online literacy can have dire consequences for the credibility of the research process. Conclusion: The case of Rafael Alun Trisambodo shows the power of investigative journalism, social media activism and public demand in the digital era to reveal corruption. The results demonstrate how digital media can transform non-corruption events into an opportunity to expose corruption and institutional accountability. Implications: Investigative journalism has improved transparency, accountability, and democratic oversight. It additionally emphasizes the need for ethical standards, mechanisms for verification and improved online literacy which are critical to the sustainability and reliability of digital research practices.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abdussamad, Z. (2021). Metode penelitian kualitatif. Syakir Media Press.
Al-Shami, A. (2020). Unveiling of matters: The role of investigative journalism in uncovering corruption in the Arab world. In Off and online journalism and corruption - international comparative analysis. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86418
Anbarini, R., Abdullah, A., & Sjafirah, N. A. (2023). Democracy on social media: The analysis of the new criminal code ratification polemic on Twitter. Kajian Jurnalisme, 7(1), 40–56. https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v7i1.46588
Assyakurrohim, D., Ikhram, D., Sirodj, R. A., & Afgani, M. W. (2022). Metode studi kasus dalam penelitian kualitatif. Jurnal Pendidikan Sains dan Komputer, 3(01), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.47709/jpsk.v3i01.1951
Brunetti, A., & Weder, B. (2021). Transparency and corruption. European Journal of Political Economy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2021.101987
Cohen, J. E. (2023). Infrastructuring the digital public sphere. Yale Journal of Law & Technology, 25. https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2517/
DeLuca, K. M. (2024). Digital/social media as environment: The limits to activism in a global surveillance society. Environmental Communication, 18(5), 656–661. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2024.2307988
Enikolopov, R., Petrova, M., & Sonin, K. (2018). Social media and corruption. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 10(1), 150–174. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20160089
Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. HUMANIKA, 21(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v21i1.38075
Habermas, J. (1991). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society (T. Burger & F. Lawrence, Trans.). MIT Press. (Original work published 1962)
Hasan, M., Harahap, T. K., Hasibuan, S., Rodliyah, I., Thalhah, S. Z., Rakhman, C. U., Ratnaningsih, P. W., Inanna, Mattunruang, A. A., Herman, Nursaeni, Yusriani, Nahriana, Silalahi, D. E., Hasyim, S. H., Rahmat, A., Ulfah, Y. F., & Arisah, N. (2022). Metode penelitian kualitatif. Tahta Media Group. https://tahtamedia.co.id/index.php/issj/article/view/182
Kuldova, T. Ø., Østbø, J., & Raymen, T. (2024). Luxury and corruption: Challenging the anti-corruption consensus. In Luxury and Corruption. Bristol University Press.
MacCarthy, M. (2020). Transparency requirements for digital social media platforms: Recommendations for policy makers and industry † (A Working Paper of the Transatlantic Working Group on Content Moderation Online and Freedom of Expression). https://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/download/Transparency_MacCarthy_Feb_2020.pdf
Manoli, A. E., & Bandura, C. (2021). Perceptions of the role of traditional and social media in communicating corruption. Sport Management Review, 24(3), 500–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2020.08.002
Newman, N., Fletcher, R., Robertson, C. T., Arguedas, A. R., & Nielsen, R. K. (2024). Reuters Institute digital news report 2024. Reuters Institute. https://doi.org/10.60625/risj-vy6n-4v57
Noorikhsan, F. F., Ramdhani, H., Sirait, B. C., & Khoerunisa, N. (2023). Dinamika internet, media sosial, dan politik di era kontemporer: Tinjauan relasi negara-masyarakat. Journal of Political Issues, 5(1), 95–109. https://doi.org/10.33019/jpi.v5i1.131
Palau, A. M., & Palomo, J. (2021). The role of the news media in fighting corruption practices: A case study of Spain. Journalism Studies, 22(7), 839–859. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2021.1895871
Patel, M., & Patel, N. (2019). Exploring research methodology. International Journal of Research and Review, 6, 55–76. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=3734168
Phillips, K. M., Tichavakunda, A. A., & Sedaghat, A. R. (2024). Qualitative research methodology and applications: A primer for the otolaryngologist. The Laryngoscope, 134(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30817
Rifai, E., Pitriadin, & Triono, A. (2021). The influence of online mass media on anti-corruption legal awareness education. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 12(2), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.31838/srp.2021.2.60
Rivaldi, M. F., Hidayat, D. R., & Supriadi, D. (2022). Disiplin verifikasi wartawan Tribunnews.com dan Detik.com dalam pemberitaan penganiayaan Ratna Sarumpaet. Kajian Jurnalisme, 5(2), 160–176. https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v5i2.31701
Salim, M. P. (2024). 10 fakta mengejutkan kasus penganiayaan oleh anak Dirjen Pajak, gaya hidup hingga putusan MA. Liputan6. https://www.liputan6.com/hot/read/5679633/10-fakta-mengejutkan-kasus-penganiayaan-oleh-anak-dirjen-pajak-gaya-hidup-hingga-putusan-ma?page=6#google_vignette
Salsabila, F., Daviza, T. P., Istiqomah, K., Ibadillah, Z., Ikhsan, M., Iryani, E., & Asafri, H. (2025). Membangun kecakapan literasi digital di era disinformasi: Telaah teoritis dan implikasinya pada perguruan tinggi. PESHUM: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial dan Humaniora, 4(5), 7116–7135. https://doi.org/10.56799/peshum.v4i5.10074
Suryo, A. B., Putri, A. R. N., Rahmadhana, R. A., Fitra, T. R. A., & Tarina, D. D. Y. (2024). Analisis kasus pencucian uang Rafael Alun Trisambodo dalam hukum administrasi negara. Media Hukum Indonesia (MHI), 2(4), 831–837. https://ojs.daarulhuda.or.id/index.php/MHI/article/view/989
Suwarno, P. (2023). The prevalent displays of piety and the increasing revelation of immorality: The significance of contradicting social-media phenomena in democratic Indonesia. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Democracy and Social Transformation (ICON-DEMOST 2023), 793, 198–204. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-174-6_34
Tahitu, A., Tutuhatunewa, A. R., & Sirait, J. P. M. (2021). Konstruksi realitas sosial dalam jurnalisme investigasi: Analisis naratif laporan mendalam Tempo. Jurnal BADATI Ilmu Sosial & Humaniora, 5(2), 141–158. https://ojs.ukim.ac.id/index.php/badati/article/view/1391/971
Wahyudi, D., & Sujoko, A. (2024). The ethical experience of online journalists in avoiding trial by the press. Kajian Jurnalisme, 7(2), 189–203. https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v7i2.49863
Yusoff, M. S., Othman, I. W., & Mohd Kamal, H. I. (2023). Corruption as a cultural phenomenon? Analyzing corruption issues in economics, politics, education and the public sector. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(12), 1025–1052. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i12/19931
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v10i1.68229
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Kajian Jurnalisme Indexed by:
Kajian Jurnalisme
Program Studi Jurnalistik, Fakultas Ilmu Komunikasi, Universitas Padjadjaran
Gedung 3 Lantai 2, Jalan Ir. Soekarno Km. 21, Jatinangor, Kabupaten Sumedang, Jawa Barat 45363, Indonesia
Phone: (022) 7796954
Fax: (022) 7794122
Email: [email protected]
Kajian Jurnalisme Supervised by:
