Justice on Screen: The Provision of Resolution to Public Disputes and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16

The avenue of justice in the form of a media-driven dispute resolution program has grown in popularity. Previous studies have explored the influence of media on public perception; however, few studies have critically investigated how these programs deliver resolutions that align with international principles for accountability, inclusivity, and justice. This study aimed to examine how the media-driven dispute resolution programs, specifically the “Pedro Tanggol on Justice†program, provide resolutions to public disputes and assess whether these resolutions align with selected principles of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16—Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The study utilized a qualitative approach, particularly discourse analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze ten episodes that were examined and selected based on the criteria. The Dual Concern Model by Pruitt and Rubin (2004) was utilized to analyze the conflict management styles, such as forcing, avoiding, accommodating, compromising, and integrating styles. Strong adherence to ethical considerations and integration of the criteria of trustworthiness by Lincoln and Guba (1985) were strictly followed. The analysis revealed that the “Pedro Tanggol on Justice†program predominantly employed an accommodating, compromising, and integrating style in addressing and managing disputes. However, instances of forcing style or lack of consideration were also observed. The study found that “Pedro Tanggol on Justice†provided resolution between the disputing parties, both conforming and violating the selected SDG 16 principles. The findings suggest that with the provision of a resolution to public disputes, the program must strengthen ethical standards and consistently align with the principles of SDG 16. This study emphasizes the dual role of media as both a tool for empowerment and a potential threat to sustainable, human rights-based justice.