Eksistensi Koran di Kalangan Penarik Becak Bermotor di Kecamatan Medan Timur Kota Medan

Abstract

Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui eksistensi Koran di Kalangan Penarik Becak Bermotor. Adapun teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah dari Herbet Blumer dan Elihu Katz yaitu Teori Uses and Gratifications dengan kriterianya, yaitu: Kebutuhan Kognitif (Informasi), Kebutuhan Afektif (Emosional), Kebutuhan Sosial interaksi, Kebutuhan Identitas Pribadi, dan Kebutuhan Hiburan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif, dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Adapun penentuan informan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling yang terdiri dari: minimal sudah menjalani profesi sebagai penarik becak bermotor selama 1 tahun, serta membaca media cetak koran. Peneliti juga turut mewawancarai Wartawan senior sebagai triangulasi sumber. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan, bahwa eksistensi koran di kalangan penarik becak bermotor di Kecamatan Medan Timur, Kota Medan, masih memiliki relevansi meskipun mengalami penurunan popularitas pada era digital. Penarik becak bermotor umumnya menjadikan koran sebagai sumber informasi harian yang mudah diakses, terutama untuk berita lokal yang berkaitan dengan aktivitas seharihari. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of newspapers among motorized rickshaw drivers. The theory used in this study is Herbert Blumer and Elihu Katz's Uses and Gratifications Theory, with its criteria: Cognitive (Information) Needs, Affective (Emotional) Needs, Social Interaction Needs, Personal Identity Needs, and Entertainment Needs. This study employed a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The informants were selected using a purposive sampling technique, consisting of: having worked as a motorized rickshaw driver for at least one year, and reading print newspapers. The researchers also interviewed senior journalists as source triangulation. Based on the results, it can be concluded that newspapers remain relevant among motorized rickshaw drivers in the East Medan District, Medan City, despite their declining popularity in the digital era. Motorized rickshaw drivers generally use newspapers as a source of easily accessible daily information, especially for local news related to their daily activities.