Roles of Local Media as Policy Entrepreneur in Local Policy Making Process

Evidence based policy has been deemed as an important element in policy processes. All government levels are expected to perform certain level of evidence-based policy making process. In order to push evidence-based policy practices, policy entrepreneurs have been considered as one of the actors that could facilitate knowledge transfer among policy makers and creating bridge between various policy actors. Policy entrepreneurs such as policy consultants, academics and local journalists could facilitate connection between planners (low level policy makers) as well as middle level policy makers with real needs of the constituencies (citizens). Within the framework of policy entrepreneurs and policy making process, the role of local media cannot be neglected. Their positions as external actor enables them to reach out to different elements of policy actors. The article examines the role of local media as policy entrepreneur in policy making process in Semarang, Central Java. Semarang has been awarded as examples of excellence in policy making process especially in terms of local development planning. Based on the case study, the article shows how Suara Merdeka a prominent local newspaper has played important role in supporting the policy agenda of Semarang Government and rarely highlights critical views in its news coverage. As such, local media tends to benefit government agenda and may not always perform its role as policy entrepreneur.