Fotografi Jurnalistik Kantor Berita Antara dalam Memberitakan Bencana Alam Gunung Lewotobi Laki-Laki

Abstract

This study examines the visual selection process carried out by photojournalists at the Antara News Agency in reporting the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, as well as the factors influencing visual decision-making. Using a qualitative descriptive method and David Manning White’s Gatekeeping Theory, photojournalists are positioned as gatekeepers who filter and determine visual information before it reaches the public. The visual selection process includes image capturing, photo selection, and publication stages, with considerations of news values, editorial policies, ethical standards, and field conditions. The findings indicate that visual selection is conducted systematically through on-site selection and editorial review, emphasizing timeliness, proximity, and emotional impact. The published photographs function not only as documentation but also as visual narratives that shape public empathy and understanding of disaster events.

Keywords: Journalistic Photography, Gatekeeping, Antara News Agency, Natural Disasters, Eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki