Episode 14 | Palace vs. Press, Festival Boycotts & The Death of SEO

The modern communication landscape is a minefield of rapidly evolving crises. One moment, a government is criticized for stifling the press; the next, a music festival is in turmoil over an ethical standoff between artists and sponsors. How brands, institutions, and individuals navigate these moments can define their public perception for years to come.

In the latest episode of Proxemics, the full team (Mercy, Steph, Sofyan, and Adwi) dives deep into the week's most pressing communication challenges. We analyze the controversial revocation of a CNN journalist’s press credentials, the ethical dilemma that led to a boycott at the Pestapora music festival, and the fierce debate over the future of SEO in the age of generative AI.

Palace vs. Press: Arrogance or Miscommunication?

The episode kicks off with the controversial incident where a CNN journalist's press card was temporarily revoked after asking President Prabowo a question outside of an agreed-upon topic. While the Presidential Press Bureau (BPMI) had briefed journalists to stick to the official agenda, the question was posed anyway, sparking a reaction that was widely seen as an overreach.

The team agrees this was a completely "avoidable" crisis that unnecessarily damaged the government's image at a time when public trust is already fragile. The act was met with fierce backlash from the press community, which viewed it as an attempt to silence the media. The consensus is that while the initial briefing was an attempt to manage the narrative, the heavy-handed response turned a minor issue into a major controversy about press freedom as a pillar of democracy.

"You cannot stop the media from asking questions that are being hotly discussed by the public at that moment."

Pestapora's Ethical Dilemma: Artist Idealism vs. Contractual Reality

A firestorm erupted at the Pestapora music festival when several bands, including Sukatani, pulled out of their contracts upon discovering that Freeport Indonesia was a major sponsor. This sparked a heated debate about ethics, activism, and professional responsibility.

Key takeaways from the discussion include:

• The Organizer's Responsibility: The event organizer (EO) is primarily responsible for protecting both its sponsors and its performers. Their public statement following the incident was seen as weak, as it failed to take full ownership of the situation and appeared to throw the sponsor "under the bus".

• The Artist's Due Diligence: For artists who hold strong values, there is an onus to be critical and inquire about all sponsors before signing a contract. While their stance was celebrated by fans, it also represents a breach of a professional agreement unless specific clauses were included, like in the case of the late Glenn Fredly who contractually refused to perform at events sponsored by tobacco companies.

• The Brand's Communication Gap: For Freeport, the incident was a stark reminder that a significant communication gap still exists with the public, despite their CSR efforts. Having a well-intentioned sponsorship publicly rejected is a major PR challenge that highlights the need for more effective communication.

Is SEO Finally Dead in the Age of AI?

The episode closes with a debate sparked by a viral LinkedIn post declaring "SEO is dead" and that the future is all about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)—optimizing for AI search engines like ChatGPT and Gemini.

However, the team argues that this view is misguided. SEO is not dead; it has become the essential foundation for GEO. Here’s why:

• AI Relies on Validation: Generative AI engines always provide citations to validate their answers.

• Citations Come from SEO: These citations are pulled from credible media articles and official brand websites—sources that are discoverable precisely because they are well-optimized for search (SEO).

The conclusion is that brands cannot afford to abandon SEO. Instead, they must understand that SEO, media relations, and GEO are now interconnected parts of a single ecosystem for building authority and being discovered online.

To hear the team’s full take on the new Finance Minister's communication style, the social phenomenon of "strobo" abuse, and a chilling story about an AI that learned to blackmail its creator to survive, listen to the full episode.

Timestamps from the Episode

0:00:21 - Intro & Topik Utama Episode Ini

0:00:40 - Polemik Kebebasan Pers: Insiden CNN & Prabowo

0:09:55 - Debat Pestapora: Musisi Boikot Sponsor Freeport

0:21:18 - Gaya Komunikasi Menteri Keuangan Baru vs. Sri Mulyani

0:24:52 - Fenomena "Desakralisasi Jabatan" Pejabat Publik

0:30:15 - Arogansi Strobo & Kultur Feodal di Jalanan

0:39:32 - Perdebatan Sengit: Apakah SEO Sudah Mati?

0:40:40 - Realita Gaya Hidup Pejabat: Antara Empati & Hipokrisi

1:10:20 - Peran SEO, GEO, dan Media Relations di Era AI

1:13:45 - Kisah Nyata: AI Mulai Bisa Berbohong & Mengancam

1:19:28 - Penutup

Brands & People Mentioned in This Episode

Tokoh & Brand: Prabowo Subianto (@prabowosubianto), Sri Mulyani Indrawati (@smindrawati), Purbaya, Sandiaga Uno (@SandiunoTV), Mahfud MD (@mohmahfudmdofficial), Gus Dur (@GusdurianChannel), Glenn Fredly (@GlennFredly), Freeport Indonesia (@FreeportID), Pestapora (@pestapora), Sukatani (@sukataniofficial).

Media & Platform: CNN (@CNN), Times of Israel (@thetimesofisrael), Al Jazeera (@aljazeeraenglish), Google (@Google), ChatGPT (OpenAI, @OpenAI), Gemini (@GoogleAI), Perplexity AI (@PerplexityAI), Marvel (@marvel).

Agensi Kita: Praxis (@praxis.co.id), Prajna (@prajna.co.id), Explicar (@explicar.co.id), Whitewood (@whitewood.digital).