Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Madia
The MADIA Journal (Journal of Public Relations and Contemporary Media), Volume 7, Issue 1, 2026, features seven research articles that address various communication issues in the context of digital society, local culture, social media, and interpersonal communication. This issue reflects developments in communication studies that not only highlight the transformation of digital media but also examine communication practices in social life, communities, organizations, and the preservation of local culture.
The exploration of digital communication in this issue is presented through research on the use of Instagram as a promotional medium for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to increase consumer engagement, as well as an analysis of content creators’ communication styles in building interactions with audiences on digital platforms. Both articles demonstrate how social media has become a strategic space for marketing communication, personal branding, and the formation of relationships between communicators and their audiences.
The dynamics of interpersonal communication are also a focus of discussion through research on correctional officers’ communication in guiding the behavior of female inmates, as well as a phenomenological study of interpersonal communication in fostering solidarity within the Bengkulu cosplay community. Both studies highlight the importance of communication quality in building trust, solidarity, behavioral change, and social relationships in various institutional and community contexts.
The perspective of cultural communication is explored through a study of the Bezikir tradition as a means of cultural communication among the community of Pulau Panggung Village, Kaur Regency. This research confirms that local cultural practices serve not only as a legacy of tradition but also as a medium for transmitting values, fostering collective identity, and strengthening social cohesion within the community. Meanwhile, the issue of service communication is discussed through research on symbolic interaction in online transportation services between GrabBike drivers and passengers in Bengkulu City, which illustrates the processes of meaning-making, identity negotiation, and social relationships within a digital platform-based communication space.
Overall, MADIA Journal Volume 7, Number 1, Year 2026 contributes to the development of communication studies through a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to contemporary communication challenges. This issue is expected to serve as a reference for academics, researchers, students, and practitioners in understanding the dynamics of digital communication, cultural communication, interpersonal communication, and the transformation of communication practices in an increasingly digitized society.
