Wartani's Multicultural Transformation Strategies as Alternative Media on Facebook in Southern Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/yyb2ab82Abstract
This study examines the multicultural transformation strategies of Wartani, a community-based alternative media platform on Facebook, within the context of Southern Thailand's prolonged ethnic conflict. Mainstream Thai media have consistently framed this conflict from a state-security perspective, marginalizing local Malay-Muslim voices. Using a constructivist paradigm and a qualitative intrinsic case study method, data were collected through in-depth interviews with four purposively selected informants, observation of digital content on Wartani's Facebook page, and document analysis. Drawing on multicultural transformation theory, Atton's alternative media model, and Entman's framing theory, findings identify four strategies: (1) inclusive identity representation of marginalized groups including women and youth; (2) linguistic transformation through deliberate replacement of stigmatizing labels with neutral terminology; (3) dialogue-oriented content framing that repositions conflict as a humanitarian rather than a security issue; and (4) peace journalism principles applied to sensitive reporting. The study also reveals Wartani's dual positioning as both local and an alternative medium, enabling it to serve as a cross-cultural mediator within the digital public sphere. These findings contribute to multicultural transformation theory and the alternative media model within Southeast Asian peace and conflict studies
Keywords:
Facebook, multicultural transformation, Southern Thailand, Wartani, alternative mediaDownloads
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