ISSUE MANAGEMENT BY PUBLIC RELATIONS AT THE INDONESIA CABINET SECRETARIAT IN FACING NEWS OF THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION POSTPONEMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37231/apj.2025.8.SI1.803Abstract
In early 2023, public discourse in Indonesia was stirred by the issue of postponing the 2024 general election, following a Central Jakarta District Court decision favoring the Prima Party’s lawsuit. This study aims to examine the issue management strategy employed by the Public Relations (PR) unit of the Indonesia Cabinet Secretariat in responding to this sensitive political situation. Using a qualitative case study approach within a constructivist paradigm, data were collected through in-depth interviews with five key informants including PR practitioners and journalists supported by literature review and document analysis from March 2023 to January 2024. The findings reveal that the PR team followed five standardized stages of issue management: issue identification, issue analysis, action planning, program implementation, and a continuing evaluation process. The strategy was predominantly reactive, with emphasis on accurate news monitoring, internal communication coordination, and dissemination of information via the official Cabinet Secretariat website to counter misinformation and maintain public trust. Although internal communication systems functioned effectively, human resource limitations and uncontrollable media narratives posed challenges. Despite these, the PR team successfully mitigated potential reputational risks and upheld government transparency. This study concludes that a structured issue management strategy, even when reactive, is essential in sustaining public confidence during political controversies. It also underscores the critical role of government public relations in bridging state decisions and public perception during times of democratic tension.
Keywords: Public Relations; Issue Management; Indonesia; Politics; Elections
References
Akasah, M. (2022). Government communication management strategy. Jurnal Mantik, 6(3), 3129–3136.
prianti, R., Putri, S. H., & Lathifah, N. (2023). Strategi manajemen isu public relations PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) kantor pusat dalam menangani isu pemberitaan negatif pelecehan seksual di kereta. JISIP (Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Pendidikan), 7(2), 1207–1224.
BBC News Indonesia. (2023). Pemilu 2024: Gugatan Partai Prima “salah kamar”, putusan Pengadilan Tinggi “harus jadi acuan” bagi gugatan lain yang meminta pemilu ditunda. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-64818147
Cheah, J. L.-S. (2021). Harapan Mahathir kepada penjawat awam Malaysia baharu: Analisis ucapan Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Asian People Journal (APJ), 4(2), 116–126.
CNN Indonesia. (2023). Isu tunda pemilu, mulai dari menteri Jokowi hingga diketok pengadilan. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20230303113639-617-920276
Coombs, W. T. (2021). Crisis management and issue management: Proactive communication strategies. In W. T. Coombs & S. J. Holladay (Eds.), The handbook of crisis communication (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Dirhantoro, T. (2023). Mahfud MD tegaskan pemilu 2024 tak bisa diundur, singgung negara bakal chaos. Kompas TV. https://www.kompas.tv/article/387192
Farihanto, M. N. (2014). Teman tapi mesra humas dan wartawan (studi kasus strategi hubungan media di bidang humas dan protokoler Universitas Ahmad Dahlan). Profetik: Jurnal Komunikasi, 7(2), 143–157.
Haryanti, S., & Rusfian, E. Z. (2018). Government public relations and social media: Bridging the digital divide on people with social welfare problems. JKAP (Jurnal Kebijakan dan Administrasi Publik), 22(2), 128–145.
Herman, A. (2023). Penyebaran berita politik dan partisipasi politik masyarakat Kota Palu di media sosial. KOMUNIKATIF: Jurnal Ilmiah Komunikasi, 12(1), 51–61.
Kriyantono, R. (2015). Manajemen public relations dan media komunikasi: Konsep dan aplikasi. Kencana Prenada Media Group.
Kriyantono, R. (2022). Teknik praktis riset komunikasi kuantitatif dan kualitatif (Edisi kedua). Prenada Media.
Lee, M., Neeley, G., & Stewart, K. (2021). The practice of government public relations. Routledge.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Nugroho, R. A., & Mucharam, A. (2021). Strategi manajemen isu humas PT Angkasa Pura 1 dalam menangani pemberitaan negatif. Ikon: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Komunikasi, 26(1), 32–46.
Nugroho, S. A., & Rochmat, S. (2024). The Army of Prophet Muhammad and Pesantren Leaders’ Response to Religious Blasphemy in the Dutch East Indies Circa 1918-1919. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (Journal of Islamic Education Studies), 12(1), 95-120.
Peraturan Menteri Negara Pendayagunaan Aparatur Negara Nomor PER/109/M.PAN/11/2005. (2005). Tentang Setkab. https://setkab.go.id/tentang-setkab
Prayudi, P. (2016). Manajemen isu dan krisis. LPPM UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta.
Sanusi, S. (2022). Manajemen isu RSUD Cut Nyak Dhien dalam kasus malpraktek terhadap pasien di Meulaboh Aceh Barat. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Fakultas Ilmu Sosial & Ilmu Politik, 7(2), 1–12.
Setneg. (2023). PN Jakarta Pusat putuskan tunda Pemilu 2024, Wapres tegaskan, putusan belum final dan tetap pada rencana awal. https://www.setneg.go.id/baca/index/pn_jakarta_pusat_putuskan_tunda_pemilu_2024_wapres_tegaskan_putusan_belum_final_dan_tetap_pada_rencana_awal
Setkab. (2023, December 19). Cabinet Secretariat maintains the ‘Informative’ predicate in public information openness. https://setkab.go.id/en/Cabinet-secretariat-maintains-the-informative-predicate-in-public-information-openness/
Siregar, R. T., et al. (2021). Komunikasi organisasi. Yayasan Kita Menulis.
Sopi, S. R. S. (2022). PAS dan transformasi politik: Kesesuaian sebagai pembangkang atau pemerintah. Asian People Journal (APJ), 5(1), 129–143.
Taylor, M., & Kent, M. L. (2022). Public relations theory and practice in a post-truth era. Routledge.
Tomohardjo, I. J. (2022). Crisis communications management in apartment residence: How the public relations officers handle conflict between management and tenant. Jurnal Komunikasi dan Bisnis, 10(1), 45–58.
Tomohardjo, I., Ahmad, M., & Amrullah, H. F. (2023). Bridging cultures: Intercultural communication in public relations for Jakarta practitioners. Profetik: Jurnal Komunikasi, 16(2), 217–235.
Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia. (n.d.). Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 (Perubahan). https://jdih.mkri.id/mg58ufsc89hrsg/UUD_1945_Perubahan.pdf
Wilcox, D. L., Cameron, G. T., & Reber, B. H. (2021). Public relations: Strategies and tactics (12th ed.). Pearson.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to transfer copyright. This transfer will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information. A notification will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript. If excerpts from other copyrighted works are included, the author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article.
