Biography

Salvatore Simarmata, currently Senior Lecturer of Communication at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia in Jakarta, is a researcher in political communication. He obtained his PhD in Communication from The Australian National University in 2024 with a dissertation investigating the new mechanics of negative campaigning in Indonesia's digital era elections. Over the past ten years, his work has centered on the intersection of media and politics particularly around electoral context in Indonesia resulting in publication of a book, chapters, national journals, and op-eds on reputable newspapers. Salvatore’s research focuses on political communication consists of political campaigns, communication and policy narratives, political reputation management, constituency communication, populist communication, and media innovation. He is the author of the book Media and Politics: Attitudes of the Press Towards Coalition Governments in Indonesia (Indonesian, 2014). His other publications include journal articles such as The Parallelism of Media Politics in Reporting on the 2014 Election in Indonesia (2017), book chapters like Political Communication in Facing the Coronavirus Pandemic (2020), and opinion pieces in print media, including The Effects of Our Personalized Election (The Jakarta Post, 2019). He has actively pursued professional development as an educator by teaching a course of Digital Asia: Technology and Society at the College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University (2019) and served as a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Journalism and Public Relations, Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Gelsenkirchen, Germany (2016). Additionally, he participated in the Workshop on Flexible Teaching Design with Flipped Classroom at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2016), and attended the Research Summer School in Social Media, Data Science, and RStudio at Radboud University, Netherlands (2019). He can be reached via email at salvatore.simarmata[a]atmajaya.ac.id

Education

Mr. Salvatore Simarmata, S.Sos., M.A., completed his undergraduate education at Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2003. He then continued his postgraduate studies at Gadjah Mada University, completing his Master's program in 2012 with a focus on communication studies.

Expertise

With a strong educational background, Mr. Salvatore has expertise in various aspects of communication, particularly in the field of Political Communication. He specializes in analyzing Negative Campaigns, Political Reputation Management, and Public Journalism, which provides him with a deep understanding of the dynamics of communication in a political context.

Recent Publications

Salvatore Simarmata, S.Sos., M.A. is an academic and communication practitioner with a particular focus on political communication and campaign strategies. Through a series of publications covering various aspects of political campaigns, Salvatore contributes to the understanding of communication dynamics in the context of elections and contemporary issues.

In his publication "Political Communication in the Face of the Corona Outbreak," Salvatore explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced political communication strategies and the interaction between the government, political parties, and the public. This research provides insights into the adaptation of communication in the context of a global health crisis.

Furthermore, through his work "The Anatomy of Negative Campaigning," Salvatore analyzes the elements that shape negative campaigns in politics. He explains the tactics and strategies used by candidates to influence public perception, as well as the psychological impact of such campaigns on voters.

In the publication "Quality Negative Campaigns," Salvatore argues that not all negative campaigns are created equal. He discusses the characteristics of effective negative campaigning and its impact on election outcomes, emphasizing the importance of ethics in political communication strategies.

Salvatore also addresses the increasingly relevant topic of "Artificial Intelligence and Negative Campaigning," where he examines how technology, particularly artificial intelligence, can be used to design and disseminate negative campaigns more efficiently. This research opens up discussions about the ethical implications of using technology in political communication.

Finally, in his publication titled "Party Coalitions Hunting for Vice Presidential Candidates," Salvatore analyzes the dynamics behind the formation of political coalitions and how vice presidential nomination strategies can influence the political landscape. This research provides in-depth insights into the political tactics used in building alliances.

With a strong background in political communication, Salvatore Simarmata continues to strive to make meaningful contributions to the study of politics and communication in Indonesia while educating the public about the importance of political literacy in the digital age.