The lecture theatre of the Master’s Programme in Islamic Communication and Broadcasting (KPI) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, fell suddenly silent that morning, Thursday (18 June 2026), as a media analysis programme was screened. In today’s era of a deluge of digital information, the messages that flash across mobile screens often carry traces of symbolic violence, unbeknownst to their users. The increasingly chaotic landscape of cyberspace has prompted academics to re-examine how people should, in fact, interact with one another in a civilised manner in the virtual world.
It is this phenomenon that formed the backdrop to the visit of Prof. Dr. Hj. Khusnul Khotimah, M.Ag., a Professor from UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, as a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication (FDK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Through a public lecture entitled “Humanistic Communication: Analysing Violence in the Media”, the academic space was transformed into a forum for critical reflection, enabling postgraduate students to unravel the complexities of contemporary digital ethics.
In his presentation, Prof. Khusnul invited the audience to dissect media realities using theoretical analytical tools, ranging from Robert N. Entman’s framing analysis and semiotics to critical discourse analysis. This step is crucial so that aspiring communication practitioners and academics are able to detect bias and hidden violent content in journalistic products and digital content. According to him, the main defence against such information distortion is the cultivation of a deep sense of humanity in the virtual space.
 “We need to cultivate digital empathy—that is, an attitude of understanding and sensitivity towards our own feelings and those of others on social media. This is a tangible manifestation of digital ethics, where we are required to pay careful attention to our choice of words before sharing anything, so as not to hurt others’ feelings,” said Prof. Khusnul calmly before the participants.
The initiative to explore the ethics of communication was warmly welcomed by the faculty management. The Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Communication (FDK) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Pajar Hatma Indra Jaya, noted that the effectiveness of a message in the digital age depends heavily on how the communicator presents the uniqueness and honesty of the message itself. He reminded students of the complexity of online discourse, which is often manipulated by certain interests through framing strategies.
“Today’s world is full of deliberately framed knowledge. Through humanistic communication studies such as this, we learn to see how messages are constructed so that the public does not get caught up in the tide of misleading information,” said Mr Pajar during his opening address at the event.
On the other hand, this academic dimension is also inextricably linked to efforts to strengthen the institutional ecosystem. The Head of the Master’s Programme in Communication Studies at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Mr Rozak, emphasised that the presence of visiting lecturers from other universities forms part of the programme’s commitment to expanding its academic network whilst maintaining sustainable quality.
“We believe that academic collaboration such as this will always bring positive benefits to both parties. This is a joint endeavour to enrich students’ academic knowledge whilst maintaining the programme’s ‘excellent’ accreditation status,” said Mr Rozak warmly.
The interactive guest lecture concluded with a discussion session and a group photograph with all members of the academic community in attendance. Amidst the rapid pace of artificial intelligence and the ever-accelerating dynamics of social media, the day’s discussion left a profound yet measured message: that no matter how sophisticated communication media may become, humanity and emotional sensitivity must remain the primary anchor in every message broadcast to the public sphere.