ABSTRACT
This research examined the interpersonal meaning of the editorial of The Jakarta Post entitled Endorsing Jokowi and The Jakarta Globe entitled The Political Process and Press Neutrality comprising with status, affect, and contact. It was also executed to describe the similarities and differences of the two media.
This research was a qualitative study applying descriptive comparative method. It was based on Systemic Functional Linguistics approach, focusing on the interpersonal meaning conveying status, affect, and contact. Furthermore, this research applied total sampling technique in taking the data. Hence, all clauses in the texts were analyzed through several elements of lexicogrammar (including mood structure, mood system, transitivity, theme, polarity, modality, lexis system, clause system, and nominal group), text structure, and genre.
There are some key findings in this thesis. First, both editorials dominantly employ declarative clause functioning as proposition. It indicates that the status between the writers and readers is equal. However, The Jakarta Post has more persuasive language and closer relation than The Jakarta Globe. It is realized through the use of attitudinal lexis, modality, and addressee. Second, the affect of the two writers toward the readers is positive. The affect of The Jakarta Globe toward the issue and two candidates is positive. Conversely, the affect of The Jakarta Post toward the issue and certain candidate is negative. It is realized from the use of polarity, attitudinal lexis, and descriptive lexis containing evaluation and judgment. Third, the contact of both writers toward the text is involved with high familiar and readable language. It is realized from the dominant simplex nominal group, topical unmarked theme, and repetition.
Finally, it can be said that nowadays certain media in Indonesia is not balance in delivering their views. Moreover, certain media openly declares its stance in endorsing certain candidate. Thus the media has function as a means of driving public opinion rather than source of information.
Keywords: SFL, interpersonal meaning, editorial text, media, Indonesia presidential election.