Contestation of Newspaper Discourses in the Novel Peroesoehan Di Koedoes: A Critical Discourse Analysis Persaingan Wacana Akhbar Dalam Novel Peroesoehan Di Koedoes: Satu Analisis Wacana Kritis

Newspapers are the primary medium of moulding discourse on significant events, including the anti-Chinese riots in Koedoes, also known as Kudus, Central Java in 1918. Some publications even created conversations to further their goals of broadcasting news to the public. Hence, this study aims to examine discourse conflicts featured in newspapers highlighted by the novel Peroesoehan di Koedoes by Tan Boen Kim (TBK). A qualitative descriptive approach was utilised in this study, with an emphasis on the identification of news cuttings featured in the novel. Data was processed using Teun A. Van Dijk’s critical discourse analysis theory, focusing on social context, text structure and social cognition. Findings indicated that the contestation of discourse in the newspaper cuttings was an attempt to influence public opinion. Sin Po, a Chinese newspaper, focused on protecting Chinese victims, whereas De Locomotief, a Dutch periodical, focused on the hazardous propaganda by indigenous groups. Conversely, Sinar Hindia, a Bumiputera newspaper, focused on the protection of residents and the Islamic Union (SI). The outlet also wrote a clarification to relieve the Bumiputera of responsibility. In addition, specific newspapers could have potentially displayed ulterior motives. TBK’s choice of stories might also indicate his aim to denounce the rioters’ crimes against ethnic Chinese. Future research can explore other TBK works through critical discourse analysis as well to map his tendencies during the production of discourse.