Public Relations and Crisis Management Strategies for Countering Misinformation About Islamic Boarding Schools: A Case Study of the Tahfidzul Qur'an Baitul Makmur Islamic Boarding School in Malang

Abstract

Advances in information and communication technology have accelerated the spread of information through social media, but at the same time have also increased the potential for the spread of hoaxes that can affect the image of Islamic educational institutions, including Islamic boarding schools. Hoaxes regarding Islamic boarding schools such as issues of violence, radicalism, health, and even the integrity of caregivers have the potential to trigger a reputational crisis if not handled appropriately. This study aims to analyze public relations and crisis management strategies for countering hoaxes about Islamic boarding schools through a case study at the Tahfidzul Qur'an Baitul Makmur Islamic Boarding School in Malang. This study employed a qualitative approach using a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and were then analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive analysis model, which includes data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that hoaxes about Islamic boarding schools spread through various social media platforms by exploiting anonymous accounts, digital chat groups, and social media algorithms that accelerate the virality of information. The public relations strategies implemented include early issue detection, prompt and transparent clarification through official channels, strengthening digital literacy among pesantren residents, and collaborating with community leaders and the media to build public trust. These strategies are an integral part of crisis management in controlling the spread of hoaxes, safeguarding the institution’s reputation, and strengthening the resilience of pesantren communication in the digital age. The novelty of this research lies in the integration of public relations and crisis management strategies in addressing hoaxes at Islamic educational institutions, thereby producing a conceptual model of crisis communication that is adaptive to the characteristics of the social media ecosystem and enriching the study of public relations in pesantren.