Transformations in Journalistic Practice in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence: An Empirical Study of Journalists in Saudi Digital Newsrooms

Abstract

This study examines the transformations in journalistic practice in the era of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), with reference to digital newsrooms in Saudi Arabia. It aims to assess the level and major areas of GenAI adoption in journalistic work; identify the transformations associated with its use in journalistic practices, professional roles, and news production processes; assess adherence to professional standards and the quality of AI-assisted journalistic content; determine the extent of human intervention in reviewing and verifying AI-generated outputs; and identify the principal professional, ethical, and organizational challenges associated with GenAI adoption. The study employed a descriptive-analytical design using a media survey method. The study population comprised journalists, editors, newsroom managers, digital content producers, and other professionals working in digital newsrooms within Saudi media organizations who possess knowledge or experience in using generative AI technologies. A purposive sample of 100 respondents was selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire developed in accordance with the study objectives, research questions, hypotheses, and the Gatekeeping Theory framework. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.70. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient at a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. The findings indicate a high level of GenAI adoption in Saudi digital newsrooms, with an overall mean of 3.98 out of 5 (79.6%). The most frequently reported applications were editing and text reformulation (83.0%), generating headlines and summaries (81.6%), and producing journalistic content (80.4%). Transformations in journalistic practice were also rated highly, with an overall mean of 4.06 (81.2%), particularly in accelerating news production and publication (84.4%) and increasing the need for human review and verification (83.6%). Adherence to professional standards and the quality of journalistic content were rated highly, with overall means of 4.11 (82.2%) and 4.07 (81.4%), respectively. Human intervention was rated very highly, with an overall mean of 4.25 (85.0%). Furthermore, the results revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between the level of GenAI use and transformations in journalistic practice and professional roles (r = 0.659, p < 0.001), with 43.4% of the variance explained. A statistically significant positive correlation was also found between GenAI use and adherence to professisonal standards and journalistic content quality (r = 0.582, p < 0.001), with 33.9% of the variance explained. The study concludes that GenAI is contributing to the restructuring of journalistic workflows and professional roles in Saudi digital newsrooms, while human oversight remains central to verification, editorial judgment, professional accountability, and final publication decisions.