Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage

This study examines the representation of electric vehicle (EV) issues in Indonesian mass media to understand how science, policy, and public discourse intersect in the context of sustainable transportation. Through a mixed-method content analysis of three major online news outlets—Kompas.com, Detik...

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Main Authors: S Rouli Manalu, Yohanes Thianika Budiarsa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Diponegoro 2025-06-01
Series:Interaksi: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/interaksi/article/view/74234
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author S Rouli Manalu
Yohanes Thianika Budiarsa
author_facet S Rouli Manalu
Yohanes Thianika Budiarsa
author_sort S Rouli Manalu
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the representation of electric vehicle (EV) issues in Indonesian mass media to understand how science, policy, and public discourse intersect in the context of sustainable transportation. Through a mixed-method content analysis of three major online news outlets—Kompas.com, Detik.com, and CNN Indonesia—spanning the years 2023–2024, the research reveals that media coverage is dominated by government narratives, focusing heavily on policy initiatives, subsidies, and market trends. Meanwhile, perspectives from civil society, academics, and environmental advocates remain underrepresented. Scientific information—particularly concerning EV lifecycle emissions, battery supply chains, and broader environmental trade-offs—is largely absent or presented without sufficient depth or balance. The study argues that the media must adopt a more inclusive, evidence-based approach to science communication to better inform the public, support democratic participation in policy-making, and promote informed societal engagement with Indonesia’s transition to sustainable transport.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2301-6051
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Universitas Diponegoro
record_format Article
series Interaksi: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi
spelling doaj-art-5f76c65597a44149bf3690acd22ec9da2025-08-20T03:27:51ZengUniversitas DiponegoroInteraksi: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi2301-60512548-49072025-06-01141174010.14710/interaksi.14.1.17-4026036Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverageS Rouli Manalu0Yohanes Thianika Budiarsa1Department of Communication Science, Universitas Diponegoro, IndonesiaDepartment of Communication Science, Universitas Diponegoro, IndonesiaThis study examines the representation of electric vehicle (EV) issues in Indonesian mass media to understand how science, policy, and public discourse intersect in the context of sustainable transportation. Through a mixed-method content analysis of three major online news outlets—Kompas.com, Detik.com, and CNN Indonesia—spanning the years 2023–2024, the research reveals that media coverage is dominated by government narratives, focusing heavily on policy initiatives, subsidies, and market trends. Meanwhile, perspectives from civil society, academics, and environmental advocates remain underrepresented. Scientific information—particularly concerning EV lifecycle emissions, battery supply chains, and broader environmental trade-offs—is largely absent or presented without sufficient depth or balance. The study argues that the media must adopt a more inclusive, evidence-based approach to science communication to better inform the public, support democratic participation in policy-making, and promote informed societal engagement with Indonesia’s transition to sustainable transport.https://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/interaksi/article/view/74234electric vehicles (evs)science communicationmedia analysisenvironmental policypublic engagement.
spellingShingle S Rouli Manalu
Yohanes Thianika Budiarsa
Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
Interaksi: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi
electric vehicles (evs)
science communication
media analysis
environmental policy
public engagement.
title Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
title_full Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
title_fullStr Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
title_full_unstemmed Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
title_short Electric vehicles narratives in public conversation: the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
title_sort electric vehicles narratives in public conversation the underrepresentation of scientific knowledge in media coverage
topic electric vehicles (evs)
science communication
media analysis
environmental policy
public engagement.
url https://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/interaksi/article/view/74234
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