Ross Tapsell
Biographic Data
| ID | 652233 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ross Tapsell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ross |
| FAMILY NAME | Tapsell |
| SIGNATURE | TAPSELL R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Australian National University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2925-3197 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 82 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Malaysia in 2025
In 2025 Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, looked to further consolidate his power and influence over domestic politics, moving to shore up support within his party and his coalition government, with the ultimate aim of re-election in the next general election. Some of Anwar’s moves were considered problematic and even undemocratic, with many Malaysian politicians and activists once again exasperated by the lack of progress on reforms. Int…
Social Media and Information Abundance: Flooding the Digital Realm in Indonesia
This article examines the concept of "information abundance" in the context of Indonesia's democratic decline. Indonesia has long been known for ubiquitous use of online platforms, and is sometimes referred to as the "social media capital" of the world. However, information abundance is now seen as problematic, with the term "infodemic" based around concerns of "too much information." Following Indonesian scholarly ideas around critical communica…
Social Media and Malaysia's 2022 Election: The Growth and Impact of Video Campaigning
This article argues that Malaysia's 2022 General Election (GE15) amplified negative campaigning via new techniques associated with platform and technological advancements, led by creative innovations in campaign tactics, including livestreaming and video content. GE15 was the freest election campaign in Malaysia's history. All political parties and coalitions enjoyed access to a wide range of mainstream and online media to disseminate content, an…
Demystifying disinformation shadow economies: Fake news work models in Indonesia and the Philippines
Engaging with the special issue theme of media freedom ‘from below,’ this article contributes ethnographically grounded and comparative research of two democratic Southeast Asian countries dealing with urgent threats to media freedom and democracy: Indonesia and the Philippines. Our research identifies the main disinformation work models in Southeast Asia, most notably through the use of buzzers (Indonesia) and trolls (the Philippines). Our resea…
From Grassroots Activism to Disinformation: Social Media in Southeast Asia
Divide and rule: Populist crackdowns and media elites in the Philippines
This article examines the ways in which populist president Rodrigo Duterte has managed and controlled the Philippines media since his election victory in 2016. Existing literature has pointed to the important role the media has played in electing and sustaining the popularity of Duterte, but have not examined the role of ‘media elites’. Through personal interviews with media owners and others in Manila, this empirical research provides insights i…
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge?." Journal of Contemporary Asia, 51(3), pp. 530–531
Malaysia in 2019: A Change of Government without Regime Change
“Southeast Asian Affairs, first published in 1974, continues today to be required reading for not only scholars but the general public interested in in-depth analysis of critical cultural, economic and political issues in Southeast Asia. In this annual review of the region, renowned academics provide comprehensive and stimulating commentary that furthers understanding of not only the region’s dynamism but also of its tensions and conflicts. It is…
Social Media and Elections in Southeast Asia: The Emergence of Subversive, Underground Campaigning
This article examines the use of social media platforms as a prominent form of election campaigning in three countries in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Social media campaigning is now a prominent feature, not just in democratic election campaigns (Indonesia and the Philippines) but also in semi-authoritarian regimes (Malaysia). Through personal interviews with social media campaign professionals in all three coun…
Strangers next door? Indonesia and Australia in the Asian century, edited by Tim Lindsey & Dave McRae
The Smartphone as the “Weapon of the Weak”: Assessing the Role of Communication Technologies in Malaysia's Regime Change
This paper examines the role of new communication technologies in the regime change of Malaysia's 2018 elections. I argue that growing Internet penetration in semi-rural areas of Malaysia's Peninsula “heartlands” allow for new forms of campaign message to be spread in unique and compelling ways. Facebook and instant-messenger platform WhatsApp are playing a prominent role in shaping political discourse in contemporary Malaysia, and this was evide…
The Media and Subnational Authoritarianism in Papua
This article examines the hindrances to journalists' autonomy in the Papua provinces of Indonesia. It argues that media practitioners in Papua are operating in a subnational authoritarian environment, where the freedoms enjoyed by journalists elsewhere in Indonesia's largely robust media are not afforded to local journalists. The article explains that security forces and local government are the main factors influencing mainstream news content in…
Indonesia's Media Oligarchy and the “Jokowi Phenomenon
In post-New Order Indonesian politics, two distinct viewpoints concern the nature and influence of oligarchy. The first argues that while an authoritarian government no longer controls power or sets the agenda, post-1988 Indonesia is dominated by oligarchs. The second view focuses on the process of Indonesia's democratic transition being a populace movement, and the result of the people's struggles against power, class, and political forces. In 2…
Digital Media in Indonesia and Malaysia: Convergence and Conglomeration
Through a comparative study of trends in the media industry in Indonesia and Malaysia, this article analyzes the transformative process of digital media on news production. Through an in-depth discussion of the influential conglomerates in two neighbouring countries, it examines the effects of digital media on journalism, news, and information. By including Southeast Asia in scholarly debates concerning the impact of the digital revolution, it wi…
Journalism and Conflict in Indonesia: From Reporting Violence to Promoting Peace
Australian Reporting from East Timor 1975–1999: Journalists as Agents of Change
This article examines Australian reporting in East Timor from 1975 to 1999, and the changing professional practice of Australian journalists who reported from the region during this time. Research conducted for this article includes testimony from the journalists, and a collating of 3,456 newspaper articles published in the mainstream Australian press on the East Timor situation between 1998 and 1999. It will show that in addition to new regulati…
Negotiating Media ‘Balance’ in Malaysia's 2013 General Election
This article will discuss recent trends in Malaysia's media surrounding the 2013 general election (GE13). It will argue that the GE13 produced two important trends in the media industry. First, there was increased political-party participation in social media, citizen journalism and blogging. In fact, it practically led to a ‘cyberwar’ between political parties, making the realm of the online and social media increasingly polarised and partisan. …
The Media Freedom Movement in Malaysia and the Electoral Authoritarian Regime
This article will provide an outline of the Malaysian media freedom movement from reformasi in 1998 until today. Research for this article includes testimony from those journalists and activists who attempted to implement reform in the media industry, inc
Old Tricks in a New Era: Self-Censorship in Indonesian Journalism
Even though Indonesia has entered a new era of democracy and press freedom, self-censorship still exists in the professional practice of many Indonesian newspaper journalists. Indonesia has a long history of censorship, particularly pressure from the government encouraging journalists to self-censor their work. As such, self-censorship has been encouraged and promoted through the institutionalised and internalised values of many Indonesian newspa…
Australian Reporting of the Indonesian Killings of 1965–66: The Media as the “First Rough Draft of History”
This article examines Australian press coverage of the Indonesian killings of 1965–66, and considers its legacy for the historical consciousness of events in Indonesia. The Indonesian killings of 1965–66 occurred on Australia's doorstep, at a time when the Cold War dominated the front pages of Australian newspapers. By examining articles from one of Australia's leading newspapers, The Sydney Morning Herald , we show that press coverage of the kil…
Old Tricks in a New Era: Self-Censorship in Indonesian Journalism
Even though Indonesia has entered a new era of democracy and press freedom, self-censorship still exists in the professional practice of many Indonesian newspaper journalists. Indonesia has a long history of censorship, particularly pressure from the government encouraging journalists to self-censor their work. As such, self-censorship has been encouraged and promoted through the institutionalised and internalised values of many Indonesian newspa…
The Media Freedom Movement in Malaysia and the Electoral Authoritarian Regime
This article will provide an outline of the Malaysian media freedom movement from reformasi in 1998 until today. Research for this article includes testimony from those journalists and activists who attempted to implement reform in the media industry, inc
Social Media and Elections in Southeast Asia: The Emergence of Subversive, Underground Campaigning
This article examines the use of social media platforms as a prominent form of election campaigning in three countries in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Social media campaigning is now a prominent feature, not just in democratic election campaigns (Indonesia and the Philippines) but also in semi-authoritarian regimes (Malaysia). Through personal interviews with social media campaign professionals in all three coun…
The Smartphone as the “Weapon of the Weak”: Assessing the Role of Communication Technologies in Malaysia's Regime Change
This paper examines the role of new communication technologies in the regime change of Malaysia's 2018 elections. I argue that growing Internet penetration in semi-rural areas of Malaysia's Peninsula “heartlands” allow for new forms of campaign message to be spread in unique and compelling ways. Facebook and instant-messenger platform WhatsApp are playing a prominent role in shaping political discourse in contemporary Malaysia, and this was evide…
Divide and rule: Populist crackdowns and media elites in the Philippines
This article examines the ways in which populist president Rodrigo Duterte has managed and controlled the Philippines media since his election victory in 2016. Existing literature has pointed to the important role the media has played in electing and sustaining the popularity of Duterte, but have not examined the role of ‘media elites’. Through personal interviews with media owners and others in Manila, this empirical research provides insights i…
Indonesia's Media Oligarchy and the “Jokowi Phenomenon
In post-New Order Indonesian politics, two distinct viewpoints concern the nature and influence of oligarchy. The first argues that while an authoritarian government no longer controls power or sets the agenda, post-1988 Indonesia is dominated by oligarchs. The second view focuses on the process of Indonesia's democratic transition being a populace movement, and the result of the people's struggles against power, class, and political forces. In 2…
Negotiating Media ‘Balance’ in Malaysia's 2013 General Election
This article will discuss recent trends in Malaysia's media surrounding the 2013 general election (GE13). It will argue that the GE13 produced two important trends in the media industry. First, there was increased political-party participation in social media, citizen journalism and blogging. In fact, it practically led to a ‘cyberwar’ between political parties, making the realm of the online and social media increasingly polarised and partisan. …
The Media and Subnational Authoritarianism in Papua
This article examines the hindrances to journalists' autonomy in the Papua provinces of Indonesia. It argues that media practitioners in Papua are operating in a subnational authoritarian environment, where the freedoms enjoyed by journalists elsewhere in Indonesia's largely robust media are not afforded to local journalists. The article explains that security forces and local government are the main factors influencing mainstream news content in…
Social Media and Malaysia's 2022 Election: The Growth and Impact of Video Campaigning
This article argues that Malaysia's 2022 General Election (GE15) amplified negative campaigning via new techniques associated with platform and technological advancements, led by creative innovations in campaign tactics, including livestreaming and video content. GE15 was the freest election campaign in Malaysia's history. All political parties and coalitions enjoyed access to a wide range of mainstream and online media to disseminate content, an…
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge?." Journal of Contemporary Asia, 51(3), pp. 530–531
Journalism and Conflict in Indonesia: From Reporting Violence to Promoting Peace
Australian Reporting of the Indonesian Killings of 1965–66: The Media as the “First Rough Draft of History”
This article examines Australian press coverage of the Indonesian killings of 1965–66, and considers its legacy for the historical consciousness of events in Indonesia. The Indonesian killings of 1965–66 occurred on Australia's doorstep, at a time when the Cold War dominated the front pages of Australian newspapers. By examining articles from one of Australia's leading newspapers, The Sydney Morning Herald , we show that press coverage of the kil…
Old Tricks in a New Era: Self-Censorship in Indonesian Journalism
Even though Indonesia has entered a new era of democracy and press freedom, self-censorship still exists in the professional practice of many Indonesian newspaper journalists. Indonesia has a long history of censorship, particularly pressure from the government encouraging journalists to self-censor their work. As such, self-censorship has been encouraged and promoted through the institutionalised and internalised values of many Indonesian newspa…
Australian Reporting from East Timor 1975–1999: Journalists as Agents of Change
This article examines Australian reporting in East Timor from 1975 to 1999, and the changing professional practice of Australian journalists who reported from the region during this time. Research conducted for this article includes testimony from the journalists, and a collating of 3,456 newspaper articles published in the mainstream Australian press on the East Timor situation between 1998 and 1999. It will show that in addition to new regulati…
Negotiating Media ‘Balance’ in Malaysia's 2013 General Election
This article will discuss recent trends in Malaysia's media surrounding the 2013 general election (GE13). It will argue that the GE13 produced two important trends in the media industry. First, there was increased political-party participation in social media, citizen journalism and blogging. In fact, it practically led to a ‘cyberwar’ between political parties, making the realm of the online and social media increasingly polarised and partisan. …
The Media Freedom Movement in Malaysia and the Electoral Authoritarian Regime
This article will provide an outline of the Malaysian media freedom movement from reformasi in 1998 until today. Research for this article includes testimony from those journalists and activists who attempted to implement reform in the media industry, inc
Digital Media in Indonesia and Malaysia: Convergence and Conglomeration
Through a comparative study of trends in the media industry in Indonesia and Malaysia, this article analyzes the transformative process of digital media on news production. Through an in-depth discussion of the influential conglomerates in two neighbouring countries, it examines the effects of digital media on journalism, news, and information. By including Southeast Asia in scholarly debates concerning the impact of the digital revolution, it wi…
Journalism and Conflict in Indonesia: From Reporting Violence to Promoting Peace
The Media and Subnational Authoritarianism in Papua
This article examines the hindrances to journalists' autonomy in the Papua provinces of Indonesia. It argues that media practitioners in Papua are operating in a subnational authoritarian environment, where the freedoms enjoyed by journalists elsewhere in Indonesia's largely robust media are not afforded to local journalists. The article explains that security forces and local government are the main factors influencing mainstream news content in…
Indonesia's Media Oligarchy and the “Jokowi Phenomenon
In post-New Order Indonesian politics, two distinct viewpoints concern the nature and influence of oligarchy. The first argues that while an authoritarian government no longer controls power or sets the agenda, post-1988 Indonesia is dominated by oligarchs. The second view focuses on the process of Indonesia's democratic transition being a populace movement, and the result of the people's struggles against power, class, and political forces. In 2…
The Smartphone as the “Weapon of the Weak”: Assessing the Role of Communication Technologies in Malaysia's Regime Change
This paper examines the role of new communication technologies in the regime change of Malaysia's 2018 elections. I argue that growing Internet penetration in semi-rural areas of Malaysia's Peninsula “heartlands” allow for new forms of campaign message to be spread in unique and compelling ways. Facebook and instant-messenger platform WhatsApp are playing a prominent role in shaping political discourse in contemporary Malaysia, and this was evide…
Strangers next door? Indonesia and Australia in the Asian century, edited by Tim Lindsey & Dave McRae
Malaysia in 2019: A Change of Government without Regime Change
“Southeast Asian Affairs, first published in 1974, continues today to be required reading for not only scholars but the general public interested in in-depth analysis of critical cultural, economic and political issues in Southeast Asia. In this annual review of the region, renowned academics provide comprehensive and stimulating commentary that furthers understanding of not only the region’s dynamism but also of its tensions and conflicts. It is…
Social Media and Elections in Southeast Asia: The Emergence of Subversive, Underground Campaigning
This article examines the use of social media platforms as a prominent form of election campaigning in three countries in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Social media campaigning is now a prominent feature, not just in democratic election campaigns (Indonesia and the Philippines) but also in semi-authoritarian regimes (Malaysia). Through personal interviews with social media campaign professionals in all three coun…
From Grassroots Activism to Disinformation: Social Media in Southeast Asia
Divide and rule: Populist crackdowns and media elites in the Philippines
This article examines the ways in which populist president Rodrigo Duterte has managed and controlled the Philippines media since his election victory in 2016. Existing literature has pointed to the important role the media has played in electing and sustaining the popularity of Duterte, but have not examined the role of ‘media elites’. Through personal interviews with media owners and others in Manila, this empirical research provides insights i…
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge
The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs or Late Surge?." Journal of Contemporary Asia, 51(3), pp. 530–531
Demystifying disinformation shadow economies: Fake news work models in Indonesia and the Philippines
Engaging with the special issue theme of media freedom ‘from below,’ this article contributes ethnographically grounded and comparative research of two democratic Southeast Asian countries dealing with urgent threats to media freedom and democracy: Indonesia and the Philippines. Our research identifies the main disinformation work models in Southeast Asia, most notably through the use of buzzers (Indonesia) and trolls (the Philippines). Our resea…
Social Media and Malaysia's 2022 Election: The Growth and Impact of Video Campaigning
This article argues that Malaysia's 2022 General Election (GE15) amplified negative campaigning via new techniques associated with platform and technological advancements, led by creative innovations in campaign tactics, including livestreaming and video content. GE15 was the freest election campaign in Malaysia's history. All political parties and coalitions enjoyed access to a wide range of mainstream and online media to disseminate content, an…
Social Media and Information Abundance: Flooding the Digital Realm in Indonesia
This article examines the concept of "information abundance" in the context of Indonesia's democratic decline. Indonesia has long been known for ubiquitous use of online platforms, and is sometimes referred to as the "social media capital" of the world. However, information abundance is now seen as problematic, with the term "infodemic" based around concerns of "too much information." Following Indonesian scholarly ideas around critical communica…
Malaysia in 2025
In 2025 Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, looked to further consolidate his power and influence over domestic politics, moving to shore up support within his party and his coalition government, with the ultimate aim of re-election in the next general election. Some of Anwar’s moves were considered problematic and even undemocratic, with many Malaysian politicians and activists once again exasperated by the lack of progress on reforms. Int…
Political science (17 works) · Law (14 works) · Sociology (14 works) · Asian Studies and History (13 works) · Media studies (11 works) · Politics (11 works) · Public relations (10 works) · Law (9 works) · Political economy (9 works) · Democracy (7 works)