The media industry is not only a means of entertainment and communication, but also plays a strategic role in shaping public opinion, influencing policy, and driving economic growth. Digital media is now the main arena where economic power and political interests meet. To comprehensively understand this dynamic, Digital Content Broadcasting undergraduate students are equipped with courses that discuss the relationship between the political economy of the media in the context of digital content broadcasting.

Understanding the political economy aspect of the media industry is crucial, because the production and distribution of digital content does not happen in a vacuum. There are policies that influence how content is constructed, disseminated and received by the public.

Course Description Economics, Politics and Media in Digital Content Broadcasting

The Political Economy of Media course in the Digital Content Broadcasting undergraduate program is a course that provides students with a basic understanding and ability to analyze the media (mass media and new media), not only as a source of information and entertainment, but as an economic and political institution. Included in that context is how economic power and state policy (politics) affect the development of the media industry and media content in Indonesia and in the world.

Learning Output

After completing the media political economy course, students are able to explain and discuss practical problems with the characteristics of the thinking process: logical, imaginative, critical, positive, creative and systematic.

Relevance of Economics, Politics and Media in S1 Digital Content Broadcasting

Digital media today cannot be separated from issues of power and capital. Giant technology companies such as Google, Meta, and TikTok not only facilitate communication, but also control data, algorithms, and information distribution. Therefore, an understanding of economics and politics becomes very relevant in the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting study program.

Reasons for the importance of this course:

• • The dominance of digital platforms: Content is channeled through platforms that are subject to economic logic and algorithms.

  • The politics of content censorship and moderation: Government or corporate policies can determine what can and cannot be delivered.

  • Media monopolies and ownership: Ownership structures affect the diversity of voices in the public sphere.

  • Media as a political campaign tool: Digital media is often used to shape political images, electoral campaigns, or even disinformation.

  By understanding the relationship between economics, politics, and media, students can develop content that is not only engaging , but also ethical, inclusive, and socially conscious.

Basic Concept

1.Media Economy

Media economics addresses how the digital content industry makes profits, manages production costs, and maximizes distribution and consumption. In the digital realm, this includes content monetization, data-driven advertising and platform business models.

Key points:

• Digital capitalism and the logic of content commercialization

• Algorithms as determinants of content visibility

• Attention economy as the main resource

2. Media Politics

Media politics is concerned with the regulation, control and ideological influence within the media. This includes:

• Censorship and digital broadcasting policy

• Political interference with media narratives

• Media as a tool for propaganda or activism

3. Media as a Social Institution

Media is not only a technical tool, but also an institution that influences society’s values, norms and culture.

Skills Required in Media Political Economy

Undergraduate Digital Content Broadcasting students need to equip themselves with a number of important skills to be able to process content with a sharp media political economy perspective:

1.Critical Analysis Skills

• Read media phenomena with a multidisciplinary approach

• Examine the policy and structure of the media industry

2. Social and Political Research

• Analyze data on media ownership, market segmentation, and communication policy

• Study public opinion through digital surveys or social media analytics

3. Media Ethics and Journalism

• Awareness of the code of ethics in producing content

• Knowledge of press freedom, privacy and access to information rights

4.Advocacy and Public Issue Narrative Skills

• Able to produce content that raises social, human rights, environmental, and democratic issues

• Sensitive to media bias and diversity of representation

5. Utilization of Technology and Digital Platforms

• Optimize content distribution through ethical algorithmic strategies

• Understand platform logic and digital trends for public issues

Conclusion

The Political Economy of Media course in the S1 Digital Content Broadcasting program has a strategic role in shaping a generation of content creators who are not only technically innovative, but also critical and aware of their social responsibilities. In the midst of digital platform hegemony and increasing information polarization, the ability to read the political-economic forces behind the media is needed.

Through the course of media political economy, students can become media actors who are not only able to compete in the creative industry, but also become agents of change in fighting for democracy, inclusion, and social justice through the digital content they produce.