E-GOVERNMENT DAN KEWARGAAN DIGITAL DALAM MENGATASI KESENJANGAN KOMUNIKASI DAN ASIMETRI INFORMASI: STUDI KOMUNIKASI PUBLIK DI WILAYAH KEPULAUAN - Antasari Bandjar; Rosdawiyah Rosdawiyah; Pahrul Idham Kaliky (ACADEMIA: Jurnal Inovasi Riset Akademik, 2026)
ABSTRACT Archipelagic regions face public communication challenges influenced by fragmented geographical conditions, limited connectivity, and unequal access to public information. These conditions have caused public services and the distribution of governmental information in villages on Ambon Island to remain less than optimal, potentially creating communication gaps between the village government and the community. This study aims to analyze the implementation of e-government as a medium of public communication in reducing geographical barriers and to examine its relationship with the formation of digital citizenship within island village communities. The study employed a qualitative approach using a multiple case study design conducted in Halong Village and Soya Village, Ambon City. Research data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations of village digital communication practices, and documentation of digital-based public services. Data analysis was carried out thematically through data reduction, theme categorization, interpretation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the implementation of e-government has expanded access to public services, accelerated information dissemination, and reduced communication barriers caused by the geographical limitations of archipelagic areas. However, the use of digital platforms remains primarily oriented toward administrative services, resulting in limited community participation in the village’s digital public communication space. This study emphasizes that strengthening digital citizenship in archipelagic regions requires the integration of digital technology, community digital literacy, and local communication culture to establish a more inclusive and participatory village governance system. ABSTRAK Wilayah kepulauan menghadapi tantangan komunikasi publik yang dipengaruhi kondisi geografis terfragmentasi, keterbatasan konektivitas, serta rendahnya pemerataan akses informasi masyarakat. Situasi tersebut menyebabkan pelayanan publik dan distribusi informasi pemerintahan desa di Pulau Ambon belum berlangsung secara optimal sehingga berpotensi menimbulkan kesenjangan komunikasi antara pemerintah dan masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis implementasi e-government sebagai medium komunikasi publik dalam mengurangi hambatan geografis serta mengkaji keterkaitannya dengan pembentukan digital citizenship pada masyarakat desa kepulauan. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus ganda pada Desa Halong dan Desa Soya di Kota Ambon. Data penelitian diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi praktik komunikasi digital desa, serta dokumentasi layanan publik berbasis digital. Analisis data dilakukan secara tematik melalui proses reduksi data, kategorisasi tema, interpretasi, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi e-government mampu memperluas akses pelayanan publik, mempercepat distribusi informasi, dan mengurangi hambatan komunikasi akibat keterbatasan geografis wilayah kepulauan. Namun demikian, pemanfaatan platform digital masih berorientasi pada pelayanan administratif sehingga partisipasi masyarakat dalam ruang komunikasi digital desa belum berkembang secara optimal. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa penguatan digital citizenship di wilayah kepulauan memerlukan integrasi antara teknologi digital, literasi masyarakat, dan budaya komunikasi lokal untuk menciptakan tata kelola pemerintahan desa yang lebih inklusif dan partisipatif.