This study aims to examine how Indonesia’s national interests were represented during its G20 Presidency 2022 through media framing, specifically investigating the balance between national and personal political agendas. By conducting a content analysis of online news articles from seven major Indonesian newspapers—Antara, CNBC Indonesia, CNN Indonesia, Detik, Kompas, Republika, and Tempo—the study explores patterns in media representing and issue prioritization. A total of 753 articles were initially collected, with 724 articles analysed after a careful selection process using MS Excel for manual coding. Findings reveal that Antara, the government-funded media, produced the highest volume of G20-related news articles among the sampled outlets. The study covered primarily centred on economic and socio-cultural themes, with less focus on pressing domestic issues such as inflation and public welfare, despite their direct relevance to public interests. This research highlights how national interests were framed through media narratives, often amplifying state-led success stories while minimizing critical perspectives on domestic challenges. Moreover, the study reveals how media dynamics – especially government-linked outlets – align closely with the administration’s messaging, raising concerns about political influence, limited freedom of expression, and media bias in Indonesia’s public discourse. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of how media framing can shape public perception of national interests during international events, particularly in contexts where political influences media narratives

This article was submitted 05.09.2024