Fourth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

In the beginning of October 2018, there was tragic news about a famous humanitarian activist in Indonesia. It was told that she was being punched in an airport. The photograph was spread in the social media. After several days the activist said that the fact is never exist. The aim of this study is to consider the seven points from the impression management theory: conformity, excuse, apologies, self-promotion, flattery, favors, and association - and also to find the process of the public opinion. Research method is qualitative method by using constructivist paradigm with interpretive technique. Validity of the result are achieved by triangulation and discussion. The results (1) Conformity took place by admitting the persecution towards her. (2) Excuse happened by the activist by saying that there wasn’t any goal to spreading the hoax. (3) Apologies were done by asking for apology in press conference. (4) Self Promotion was done by the activist by admitting her fault. (5) Flattery was done by the activist by giving flattery statement to her supporter. (6) Favors occurred by the activist was giving the bad image of herself. (7) Association happened by the activist is keeping the good image of her supporter. The constructed public opinion is (1) a persecution issue about the famous humanitarian activist (2) double standard was constructed by societal point of view and in social media (3) the existing of an opinion leader that make the hoax is true, or (4) getting press attention.