Episode 21 | Crisis Communication Case Study: The Failure of "Selected Reality" in Government Disaster Response

The government's handling of the Sumatera deforestation disaster reveals a catastrophic failure in public communication. This case study analyzes how the state's attempt to curate a positive narrative—termed here as "Selected Reality"—clashed with indisputable data, leading to a public breach of the "Social Contract" and the rise of the #BatalKontrak phenomenon.

LEADERSHIPMARKETINGPUBLIC RELATIONSCOMMUNICATIONTALENTCRISISPOLICIES AND REGULATIONSCURRENT EVENTSPUBLIC AFFAIRSTRENDSMEDIAFULL HOUSE

12/31/20252 min read

Mercy Tahitoe and White Wood Studio for Proxemics Podcast

The Power of Agenda Setting: Why Print is Not Dead

The discussion opens with a nod to the Kompas newspaper. In an era of fleeting digital feeds, Kompas utilized a manual overlay technique (kertas kalkir) to visualize deforestation data—revealing a staggering loss of 1.4 million hectares of forest in 2023 alone.

This proves that Agenda Setting is still alive. By presenting undeniable, tactile proof of environmental degradation, legacy media successfully forced the digital conversation, proving that high-quality data visualization remains the ultimate anchor of truth in a sea of social media noise.

"Selected Reality" & The Trap of Strategic Ambiguity

Why did the government’s response feel so tone-deaf? The podcast identifies a phenomenon called "Selected Reality."This occurs when high-level decision-makers are fed sanitized, "Asal Bapak Senang" (Keep the Boss Happy) reports by subordinates. Consequently, leaders issue statements that they believe are true, but are completely detached from the "Ground Truth" of the victims.

The government attempted "Strategic Ambiguity"—vague statements intended to buy time or deflect blame regarding the causes of the floods. However, in a life-or-death crisis, ambiguity is interpreted as incompetence. The refusal of foreign aid (from UAE and Malaysia) under the guise of "national sovereignty" further alienated a public that saw their fellow citizens suffering without adequate support.

The #BatalKontrak Phenomenon: A Breach of the Social Contract

The episode dives into political philosophy, referencing Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s "Social Contract." The premise is simple: citizens surrender certain rights (and pay taxes) in exchange for state protection.

When the state fails to protect citizens from preventable disasters (caused by deforestation) and then fails to manage the aftermath, the contract is voided. The viral hashtag #BatalKontrak is not just internet slang; it is a symptom of a broken fundamental agreement between the People and the State.

The Cashless Debate: Convenience vs. Constitutional Rights

Shifting gears to a viral consumer issue, the team analyzes the "Roti O" incident, where a customer was denied service for paying with cash. While businesses push for cashless systems for "Risk Management" (preventing employee theft), the team argues this violates the consumer's constitutional right to use legal tender (Rupiah). Efficiency should not come at the cost of exclusion, especially for demographics like the elderly who may not be digitally native.

Strategic Outlook: Diversification & Talent Growth

The episode concludes with an internal look at how agencies like Praxis prepare for the future. The key takeaways for business resilience include:

Diversification: Expanding beyond core PR into Research and Digital Marketing.
Talent Density: Ensuring consultants are "full glasses"—constantly upskilling through books, training, and writing—so they can pour value into clients.
Data crunching: Using the year-end slowdown to analyze accumulated data on media coverage and sentiment to refine strategies for the coming year.

Embedded Video Context

Watch the full discussion here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOYaWcru0sE]

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro: The Power of Kompas Data Visualization (Deforestation)
10:48 - The Failure of "Strategic Ambiguity" in Crisis
19:00 - "Selected Reality": Why Leaders Are Out of Touch
20:16 - The Controversy of Rejecting Foreign Aid (UAE & Malaysia)
29:00 - Philosophy of the Social Contract & #BatalKontrak
36:30 - Dirty Vote & The "Otot, Otak, Ongkos" Analysis
45:15 - The Cashless Debate (Roti O Case): Efficiency vs. Rights
57:11 - Agency Strategy: Continuous Improvement & Outlook for 2026

Brands/People Mentioned in This Episode

Kompas (Daily Newspaper): [Source of Deforestation Data]
BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency): [Government Entity]
Dino Patti Djalal: [Former Ambassador/Critic on Foreign Policy]
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: [Philosopher - Social Contract Theory]
Roti O: [Case Study for Cashless Payment Issues]
Proxemics Podcast: @proxemicspodcast