Abstract
Indonesia’ free nutritious meals (MBG) program faces serious challenges from food quality, distribution, and public demonstration. The government responses to those issues reveal complex tension between official statements, public perception, and on-the-ground realities. This study examines how the government frames, responds to, and manages cases in MBG. Secondly, an independent survey by Indikator Politik Indonesia reveals that 53.8% of respondents are satisfied with the program. This contradiction highlights a central issue, the gap between perception and lived experience. This research is practically relevant for improving public communication strategies and is theoretically significant for understanding narrative control in diverse cultural contexts. It contributes to the field of crisis communication with thematic relevance to media cultures and government-public media relations. This study applies qualitative methods, using content and discourse analysis. Data was collected from official statements, press releases, and news media coverage and analyzed using the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) to identify narrative patterns and crisis response strategies. Findings indicate that the crisis in MBG falls between accidental and preventable clusters. Authorities used mixed strategies: rebuild, deny, and diminish. Although public satisfaction is high, it likely reflects optimism toward intended goals rather than its actual effectiveness, especially as most survey respondents were not direct beneficiaries. Presenting such trust figures without clarification risks generating misleading narratives. A one-size-fits-all crisis response is not effective in a diverse country like Indonesia. Future strategies should incorporate cultural sensitivity and address deeper structural issues like food security, sustainable agriculture, nutrition education, and community-based food systems.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
CRISIS COMMUNICATION, GOVERNMENT NARRATIVE, FREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS, INDONESIA
