MOTIVASI FOLLOWERS DALAM MENGONSUMSI BERITA MELALUI AKUN INSTAGRAM @WINNEWS_ (Studi pada Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi Angkatan 2020 Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang)

This research aims to explore followers' motivations in consuming news via the Instagram account @winnews_, as well as to analyze the role of interaction and visual appeal in shaping audience engagement. In a digital era characterized by the proliferation of information, social media has become the main channel for users to access the latest news. With a qualitative approach, this research used in-depth interviews with five sources to collect data from followers of the @winnews_ account.
The research results show that the factors that motivate audiences to follow and consume news from @winnews_ include the need for accurate and up-to-date information, trust in the source's credibility, and the visual appeal presented in delivering the news. Interaction in the comments section also contributes significantly to user engagement, creating a space for discussion and exchange of views that strengthens the sense of community among the audience.
In addition, comparison with other news sources on social media reveals the superiority of the @winnews_ account in terms of presentation quality, interactivity, and use of attractive visual elements. These findings provide important insights into news consumption patterns in the social media era and suggest that news account managers prioritize content quality and interaction with the audience to increase user engagement and loyalty. It is hoped that this research can become a reference for further studies regarding news consumption on social media platforms and the contribution of news accounts in meeting people's information needs.