Visual Culture in Disaster Information on the official Instagram account of the Bengkulu^s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency
Dionni Ditya Perdana, Wahyu Widiastuti, Yuliati, Lisa Adhrianti, Rasianna Br Saragih

Dept. of Communication, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia

Abstract

Bengkulu is one of the areas prone to earthquakes. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency is an institution that can convey accurate information related to earthquakes. We hope that earthquake information or disaster information is not only available in mainstream media but also on social media. The Bengkulu^s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency as a government agency also pays attention to the importance of having self-managed social media accounts. One of them is the ^info_bmkg_bengkulu^ Instagram account. Instagram is a social media that focuses on audience interaction through shared images or videos. This shows that currently information is not only presented in text narratives but also through visual images. This study aims to determine the visual culture contained in the images shared by ^info_bmkg_bengkulu^ as a form of disaster information. The visual images were analyzed using Pierce^s semiotic analysis (icons, indexes, and symbols). The results showed that ^info_bmkg_benngkulu^ is routine and continuous in providing information related to disasters, especially earthquakes. Color selection, graphic presentation, and regional maps are carried out in order to condense information in one visual image. However, the letters that appear in the visual images are not readable enough for the reader. The visual culture shown in the shared content shows that what is the focus of disaster information, especially earthquakes, is the location, level of danger and magnitude.

Keywords: Disasters Information, Earthquake, Visual Culture, Instagram, Bengkulu

Topic: New Media: Impacts, Benefits, and Barriers