Series of violence incidents linked with Islam have occurred. Hard-line
religious groups used pressure, intimidation, or violence against those whose
message they found offensive. They become a problem when the groups bind
themselves rigidly to their beliefs. This attitude eventually makes them exclusive
and intolerant. They become closed to other truths that can be found in other
parts of the world or in even among Muslim communities itself. They trap
themselves in self-justification by choosing Qur’an verses that support their point
of view.
Despite continued criticism Islamic hardliners and get banned from MUI,
some faith-based social organizations maintained with the public appeals for
individual interpretation of Islamic doctrine and religious tolerance. Syirah
Magazine is an Islamic Publication attempting to deliver interreligious dialog and
cooperation in the middle of the heated campaign for a return to fundamentalism
and the emergence of an exclusivist Islamic movement in the country.
This study is to analyze media economics of Syir’ah Magazine in
delivering Islam Pluralism in Indonesia from three research methods, qualitative
descriptive, content analysis and focus group discussion.
The results from qualitative descriptive study show that vision of pluralism
which Syir’ah Magazine idealism is not an easy thing to sell. Since its birth,
Syir’ah Magazine has obtained hard challenges from groups with opposite
streams. However media is a profit institution which needs strong markets,
supporting working environments, breakable competitors and human resources
who are able to read consumers’ needs. Not just standing out only for idealism.
The result of content analysis study shows that Syir’ah magazine prefers
using argumentative. Nevertheless fact arguments are still easily breakable by
other arguments. Also this magazine sometimes neglected principle of news
objectivitie