Podcasts are gaining popularity in Indonesia (Daily Social, 2018). Audio podcasts produced by Jakartans with urban life and Jakarta-centric narrative dominates the podcast in Indonesia. However, Yogyakarta podcasters are trying to become the antithesis of the Jakarta-narrative podcasts with local messages. This study aimed to determine how the gatekeeping process of audio podcasts in Yogyakarta fight Jakarta-centric podcast domination. This research used a descriptive qualitative research method with grounded theories. The theories used were: (1) Podcast Production Management by Michael W. Geoghegan and Dan Klass (2007) and (2) Network Gatekeeping Theory by Karine Barzilai-Nahon (2008). In this study, the theory was limited to gatekeeping identification and mechanisms described in the Network Gatekeeping Identification Theory in the context of the network in information technology (Internet). The results of this study indicated that there was no standard mechanism related to the gatekeeping process. The gatekeeping process determinants are individual factors, where each podcaster has a different understanding of gatekeeping process. In pre-production, the gatekeeping process consists of selection (selection of themes/content materials), localization, use local language and avoiding Jakarta-centric narrative, and adding information like quotes from books or experts for sensitive issues. The gatekeeping process in production includes repetition (repeating words/sentences related to self-identity, greetings, podcast names) and shaping information into podcast nuances (formal/informal). Postproduction consists of displays (back sound and sound effects), deletion (removing irrelevant information), withholding (withholding information or, in some cases, not publishing the podcast episode), and channelling (distribute to specific channels). Podcasts that consciously aim to fight against the Jakarta-centrist podcasts are “Temukonco” and “The Podcast Sambat.” The gatekeeping process used includes the contents of the Javanese (Yogyakarta) culture as seen from the podcast name and gatekeeping bases such as (1) selection; (2) display; (3) shaping; and (4) localizing.
Keywords: content, podcast, gatekeeping