Syafriadi, Syafriadi and Santri, Selvi Harvia and Efendi, Akmar (2026) Press Freedom Paradox in Indonesia’s Electoral Democracy and Local Governance. Jurnal Ius Constituendum, 11 (3). pp. 487-505. ISSN 2541-2345

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Abstract

This study examines the implementation of press freedom within Indonesia’s electoral democracy and evaluates its role in promoting transparency and accountability during the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections. The issue is significant because democratic quality depends not only on electoral procedures but also on the availability of independent and credible public information. This research employs a mixed doctrinal–empirical legal approach by integrating constitutional and statutory analysis with qualitative sociological observation of media practices, political intervention, ownership structures, economic dependency, and digital information dynamics during the electoral process. The findings reveal a persistent paradox of press freedom in Indonesia. Although constitutional provisions and Law No. 40 of 1999 formally guarantee media independence, journalistic practices remain constrained by political patronage, media ownership concentration, regulatory fragmentation, economic pressures, and digital disinformation. These conditions weaken informational integrity, encourage selective news framing, and limit democratic deliberation. The novelty of this study lies in the development of the concept of hybrid media democracy, which explains press freedom as simultaneously functioning as a constitutionally protected democratic institution and a socio-political system shaped by political and economic interests. The study contributes to the literature by integrating constitutional law, democratic governance theory, and media sociology into a unified analytical framework that explains the gap between formal press freedom and substantive democratic outcomes. Strengthening democracy therefore requires legal protection, institutional autonomy, transparent media governance, and enhanced digital media literacy.

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