Cultural content production is not merely a form of entertainment but a symbolic communication practice that shapes collective identity. Drawing on James Carey’s transmission and ritual models of communication, this study examines how cultural journalism operates in preserving traditional culture through two media platforms: RTV’s Dubi children’s program and the Ayodya Pala Foundation’s YouTube channel. Using a qualitative comparative case study with in-depth interviews, participant observation, and semiotic analysis, the research highlights how media create symbolic spaces where children actively engage with traditional dance, folklore, and cultural symbols. The findings reveal that Dubi exemplifies ritual communication by involving child hosts in cultural practices and presenting simple, repetitive narratives tailored for young audiences. In contrast, Ayodya Pala adapts its content to digital formats through shorter videos, interactive features, and symbolic representation to engage younger generations. Both platforms embed values such as cooperation, tolerance, and harmony, reinforcing culture as a lived and shared experience, yet face challenges of funding limitations, commercial pressures, and minority representation. The study concludes that cultural journalism sustains the relevance of traditional culture in the digital era and offers practical insights for media practitioners and policymakers to design inclusive strategies for cultural preservation.
Firmansyah et al. (2025) studied this question.