Ethnic Media and Conflict Narratives: The Papua Protests in Indonesia’s National Discourse

Abstract

This study examines the role of ethnic media in shaping conflict narratives during the Papua protests and their impact on Indonesia’s national discourse. The Papua region has experienced longstanding socio-political tensions, and media coverage plays a crucial role in framing public understanding, influencing policy debates, and mediating relations between local communities and the state. This research investigates how ethnic and mainstream media construct, amplify, or contest narratives surrounding the protests, focusing on issues of identity, grievance, and state legitimacy. Employing qualitative content and discourse analysis, the study examines news articles, broadcast segments, social media outputs, and public statements produced by Papua-based and national media outlets during major protest events. The findings reveal that ethnic media often foreground local perspectives, emphasizing historical marginalization, cultural identity, and grassroots grievances, whereas national media frequently frame the protests in terms of security, law enforcement, or political stability. These divergent narratives contribute to contrasting public perceptions and may reinforce regional-national tensions. The study also identifies the strategic use of symbolic language, emotive storytelling, and selective framing as key mechanisms through which media shape conflict discourse. The novelty of this research lies in its comparative analysis of ethnic versus national media narratives within a contested political and social context, providing insight into how media mediates identity, conflict, and democratic participation in Indonesia. The contribution of the study is twofold: it enhances understanding of media’s role in conflict governance and offers policy-relevant recommendations for inclusive reporting that accommodates minority perspectives while mitigating polarization. The study concludes that promoting balanced, context-sensitive media narratives is essential for democratic dialogue, social cohesion, and conflict-sensitive policymaking in Papua and other marginalized regions.