Journalism and Media

This study explores the factors influencing the sustainable adoption of AI technologies in journalism. It integrates the expectation confirmation model (ECM)—including expectation confirmation, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction—with knowledge management (KM) features (knowledge sharing, acquisition, and application), and other factors like ease of use, trust, and technological affinity. Data from an online survey of 396 Chinese journalists using AI for journalistic tasks were analyzed through structural equation modeling. Results show that expectation confirmation significantly influences perceived usefulness, while satisfaction is correlated with expectation confirmation, usefulness, and ease of use. Sustainable use of AI is impacted by usefulness, satisfaction, knowledge management practices, ease of use, trust, and technological affinity, with perceived usefulness being the most significant factor. These findings provide deeper insights into AI adoption in journalism, offering implications for AI developers, media enterprises, and training programs aimed at fostering sustainable AI use in journalism. Full article

This comparative case study interrogates how Zimbabwe’s independent press reported on ZANU-PF factionalism in the period from 2014 to 2017. It focuses on two dailies, Daily News and NewsDay. These were Zimbabwe’s only privately owned newspapers at the time. The other daily newspapers were The Herald and Chronicle, whose editorial was controlled by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) government of Robert Mugabe. Whereas scholarship on ZANU-PF factionalism and the press is still burgeoning, little has been studied about how the independent press reported on Mugabe’s succession. The study is guided by framing theory. Data were gathered through archival research and in-depth face-to-face interviews with purposively selected journalists at Daily News and NewsDay who published stories on Mugabe’s succession. Findings reveal that rival ZANU-PF factions captured bribed journalists and influenced how they reported on Mugabe’s succession. Journalism grew “factionalized” (biased) as reporters became agents of the rival ZANU-PF factions. This disabled the newspapers from playing their informative and educative roles effectively. The factionalized reports left Zimbabweans ill-informed about developments in the governing party. Full article

This study takes the perspective of the theory of ethical witnessing. We analyse whether there is a difference in a discourse transmitted in a frame of reference based on ethical witnessing versus a discourse transmitted in the frame of hegemonic discourse based on the hierarchical testimony. This study tests the hypothesis that discourses diverging from the communication hierarchy and, consequently, from the interpretation frame established about gender-based violence, transform the elaboration, comprehension, and structure of questioning the victim’s suffering. The sample comprised 300 individuals, 85 identifying as male and 215 identifying as female. This study adopted a two-factorial (2 × 2) design comparing the testimony of gender-based violence (ethical witnessing vs. hierarchical testimony) and familiarity with the victim’s testimony (Yes vs. No). The results show that communications based on the ethical witnessing format are more effective in transforming the perception of gender-based violence than those using a hierarchical format. This study adopts the framework of ethical witnessing to examine whether discourse differs when conveyed through this lens, compared to discourse shaped by a hegemonic, hierarchical testimony. We test the hypothesis that narratives which deviate from traditional communication hierarchies—and thus from dominant interpretative frameworks surrounding gender-based violence—significantly influence how the victim’s suffering is processed, understood, and questioned. The global resonance of the #MeToo movement exemplifies the transformative potential of ethical testimony, as it amplified the voices of survivors while challenging traditional hierarchies of credibility and authority in public discourse. Full article

Social media (SM) platforms allow users to communicate rapidly, exchange information, and create and share real-time content. Currently, 4.5 billion people use social media worldwide, making it an influential part of daily life. Beyond information sharing, social media facilitates communication, transfers information, and serves as a platform for advertising and shaping public opinion. Researchers analyse these aspects to understand and describe societal realities. The primary purpose of this paper is to analyse social media’s impact on global research. The research included an analysis of the most popular social platforms, considering the number of Web of Science (WoS) articles relating to them and the year in which the platform was established or the Monthly Active Users (MAU) factor. Data were collected based on the WoS database in the topic (which contains texts of title, abstract, author keywords, and Keywords Plus) of the articles, where phrases containing names of SM platforms were used. Quantitative research is a type of research that analyses data numerically to find relationships and statistical regularities of searched phrases. The impact of social media on the dissemination of research and findings was analysed based on the results of the study and also on the literature data. This research reveals a lack of correlation between the number of articles indexed in the WoS and the MAU of individual social media platforms. This observation raises an important question: do social media researchers focus on studying the platforms used by the majority, thereby providing a more accurate representation of current social dynamics? This article is helpful for researchers, policymakers, and social media platform developers seeking to understand the role of social media in shaping modern communication and public discourse. The most important finding of the paper is the low correlation between the number of SM users and the impact of social media platforms on learning, as exemplified by the Twitter (Note: Twitter was an American social networking service rebranded as X in 2023. As the period of data analysed in this paper covered the years up to 2022, the authors decided to stay with the name Twitter) platform, which is the 17th largest SM platform but is the 2nd (after Facebook) in implications for science. Full article

Trust remains fundamental to an audience’s engagement with digital journalism, yet research has predominantly focused on Western contexts, overlooking trust dynamics in diverse digital environments. This study examines news media trust and civic engagement in Egypt’s evolving digital landscape, comparing Western and national digital news consumption patterns. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling with data from 426 Egyptian digital news consumers, we apply a four-factor trust model to analyze (1) the relationship between trust propensity and trust in digital news content and (2) how journalist assessment relates to both content trust and civic engagement across platforms. Our results reveal significant differences in trust formation, whereby trust propensity strongly predicts content trust for Western digital media (β = 0.440) but weakly for national digital media (β = 0.191), while journalist assessment consistently influences both content trust and civic outcomes across platforms. Our findings contribute to digital journalism theory by illuminating how journalist credibility functions as a trust anchor across platforms. For digital journalism practice, we identify platform-specific trust-building strategies for Western and national digital news organizations operating in complex media environments. This study extends digital journalism research beyond Western-centric models, demonstrating how cultural context, educational factors, and platform characteristics shape digital trust pathways. Full article

#MeToo furthered the debates about sexual harassment in academia in different contexts and locations. In Portugal, two moments drove the media debates around sexual harassment in higher education. Specifically, the allegations that emerged at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (FDUL) in 2022, and the case related to the Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra in 2023. This study aimed to investigate the media coverage of these cases and their respective contributions to the national debate on sexual harassment in academia. We analysed the opinion articles published online between April 2022 and June 2023 in five Portuguese newspapers, Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias, Público, Expresso, Observador, and Correio da Manhã, conducting a comparative analysis of the two cases. Sexual harassment was broadly discussed as an endemic reality, exacerbated by the precariousness and gendered hierarchical structures of academia. At the same time, there was a tendency to personalize the debate, by focusing on Boaventura Sousa Santos, CES’s emeritus director. This served as a basis for the instrumentalization of sexual violence as a form of political attack against the left, thus weakening the potential of the debates about sexual and moral harassment in academia. Full article

This study investigates the evolving trends in social media usage in Pakistan across three key periods: pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19. This research bases its analysis on data obtained from Stat Counter Global Stats to understand changes in user selection of platforms together with behavioral patterns and social consequences. To ensure validity and reliability, the data were cross-checked with publicly available statistics from individual social media platforms, ensuring consistency in reported usage trends. Facebook held the top spot on social media before the pandemic, yet YouTube together with Instagram and Twitter gained substantial growth from pandemic-era users seeking entertainment and information as well as social contact. Facebook resumed its leadership position following the pandemic period with Instagram and YouTube staying highly popular among users. This research shows Pakistan faces an ongoing digital disparity between metropolises and rural areas, thus requiring better Internet networks alongside digital education initiatives to overcome this gap. This research shows that social media platforms must deliver cultural-specific content together with features that address Pakistani user needs. This study recognizes mental health challenges from heavy social media usage, so it recommends platform-based tools establishing better online behavior practices. This paper proposes strategic guidance for policymakers and social media platforms to establish inclusive digital progress and achieve digital balance in Pakistan. Full article

The present study explores the emerging role of “public affairs live streamers” on the short video platform Kuaishou, examining how these individuals have evolved into new forms of rural elites, expanding opportunities for civic participation and rural governance in China. Through content analysis and case studies, the research identifies six key themes central to the streamers’ discourse: land and property issues, financial aid and subsidies, policy and governance, advocacy for the public, educational outreach, and customs. These themes underscore their role as rural knowledge elites who bridge the gap between the government and rural residents through digital platforms. The study further examines the mechanisms behind the emergence of “public affairs live streamers”. Empowered by the platform, these streamers effectively convert their cultural capital into online social capital, which may then be partially transformed into offline social influence and economic returns. However, their empowerment is constrained by the platform’s algorithm distribution mechanisms and opaque content regulation, making the conversion of capital unstable, traffic-dependent, and challenging to sustain. Linking to the broader socio-political landscape, the study delves into the empowering role of “public affairs live streamers” in society. These online rural elites blend knowledge with digital skills to facilitate public engagement and inspire civic awareness in rural areas through their activities. Nonetheless, their contribution to rural governance and civilization is often limited to informal mediation and emotional expression, with limited capacity to foster rational discourse or deeper improvements in rural governance. Overall, this study contextualizes the rise of rural elites within China’s rapid technological and rural development, offering a fresh perspective on how digital media can supplement governance strategies and enhance grassroots’ civic participation. Based on this analysis, the study proposes recommendations for improving platform governance and integrating public affairs streamers into broader participatory frameworks, thereby stabilizing their empowering effects and promoting sustainable rural governance. Full article

This article examines the work of journalists employed in communication offices within key centres of power, specifically, prominent institutions. It explores their professional self-perception, the working conditions they face, and how occupying such positions influences their subsequent career paths. To this end, the study conducted fourteen in-depth interviews with Spanish journalists who hold or have held significant roles in institutional communication offices in this country. Many of these professionals previously worked in the media, and some have returned to journalism after their tenure in administration. The results obtained from these interviews reveal a significant disparity in the levels of pressure experienced by professionals in offices closely tied to political decision-making compared to those in secondary institutions, despite similar financial compensation. Moreover, the study confirms that professionals working near major centres of power—referred to as “nuclear reactors” in their own words—encounter greater challenges when returning to journalism and the media due to increased political stigmatisation. Additionally, the interviews show that journalists in such offices experience stress and work pressures on a par with or exceeding those encountered in media roles. Full article

This article examines the audiovisual representation of violence during the armed takeover of the Ecuadorian television channel TC Television on 9 January 2024, an unprecedented event in the country’s recent media history. Employing a film analysis methodology, the study deconstructs the live broadcast by segmenting it into visual sequences and analyzing elements such as narrative content, shot composition, camera movement, sound design, and editing techniques. The interpretive phase includes narratological, iconic, and psychoanalytic readings. From a psychoanalytic perspective, the study explores the emotional impact of the broadcast on viewers, focusing on responses such as fear, anxiety, identification, projection, and the activation of psychological defense mechanisms. It also reflects on the broader sociocultural consequences of such representations of violence in public media. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for public investment in inclusive and high-quality education as a structural response to youth vulnerability, school dropout, and the risk of recruitment by organized criminal groups in Ecuador. Full article

Social media use is commonplace for journalists in newsgathering, including reporting newsworthy deaths. Journalists have revised their death knock practice of physically doorknocking bereaved families to a preference for digital methods to solicit comment and context for stories about fatal incidents. This is gleaned from social media. A 2021–2022 Australian mixed-methods study, including a survey and semi-structured interviews, found that journalists use social media as a tool to find, contact, and interview people, and as a source of facts, photographs, and comments for stories. Journalists are at risk of moral injury, which occurs when they breach their own moral code, including through institutional betrayal. This article argues the digital death knock increases the risk of moral injury because unfettered access to, and sanctioned use of, social media material creates new ethical complexities. It proposes that fundamental to the journalist’s risk of moral injury is their view of the journalist–source relationship, which might in turn reflect their underlying ethical framework. The journalist who preferences utilitarian ethics—the greatest good for the greatest number—may see a source as means to an end; however, the journalist who preferences deontological ethics—respect for persons as an end in themselves—may owe the source a greater duty of care, which, if breached, may make them vulnerable to moral injury. Full article

This study examines news avoidance behaviors in Egypt’s media system, addressing a significant gap in understanding how audiences disengage from news content in non-Western contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach combining focus groups (n = 16), surveys (n = 512), and expert interviews (n = 4), we investigate the relationships between news overload, trust in formal media, and selective attention in shaping news avoidance behaviors. Our structural equation model demonstrates strong explanatory power (R² = 0.505), with news overload emerging as the strongest predictor of avoidance behaviors (β = 0.481). Trust in formal media (β = −0.265) and selective attention (β = −0.184) show significant negative relationships with news avoidance. Qualitative findings reveal how Egypt’s media system creates unique conditions for news avoidance, with audiences developing sophisticated strategies for managing information flow within an environment of state control. The study advances the theoretical understanding of news avoidance by demonstrating how Media Saturation Theory operates within authoritarian contexts while providing practical insights for news organizations operating under state control. Our findings suggest that news avoidance in authoritarian systems represents not simply audience disengagement but rather a complex adaptation to specific institutional and social conditions. Full article

The rapid rise of fake news has become a growing concern in recent years; moreover, advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), have further exacerbated this issue by making it increasingly difficult to detect and verify fake news content. Also, the advent of AI, especially in auto-generated texts and deepfakes, has made identifying such misinformation significantly more challenging, as this may be associated with many predetermined factors. This study, therefore, investigated the psychological factors that influence media consumers’ belief in deepfakes and other AI-generated content, particularly focusing on how this type of news exposure impacts young adults. Using quantitative methodology, the study randomly sampled a total of (N = 381) young adults to explore the relationship between factors like low critical thinking, emotional attachment to news, and susceptibility to AI-generated fake news. The study found a critical linkage in the prediction that low critical thinking exacerbates exposure to AI-generated fake news content. This study validated the assumption that AI fake news exposure significantly predicts low media trust and antisocial behaviours. In addition, the study affirmed that emotional attachment to news will be positively associated with AI-FNE. This study ultimately concludes that factors such as low critical thinking and emotional attachment to news are predeterminants to AI-FNE, while AI-FNE further exacerbates antisocial behaviours and an individual’s belief in news platforms. Full article

This study investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into undergraduate and graduate curricula in journalism and new media programs in Türkiye, offering a systematic analysis of course structures and content. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, this study combines document analysis and thematic content analysis to examine course catalogs, syllabi, and institutional reports from 72 universities. The findings reveal that AI education in these programs is predominantly theoretical, with courses emphasizing AI ethics, media algorithms, and the impact of automation on news production. Practical applications, such as data journalism and AI-assisted content creation are comparatively scarce. This study highlights the uneven distribution of AI-related courses across institutions, illustrating significant disparities in curriculum depth and focus. While some universities have embraced a more comprehensive AI framework, others offer minimal exposure to AI-related competencies. By systematically mapping AI course distribution across institutions, this study provides empirical insights into the gaps and disparities in AI education, offering recommendations for a curriculum compatible with digital transformation. Full article

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism has transformed the sector, with media generating content automatically without journalists’ involvement, and various media companies implementing AI solutions. Some research suggests AI-authored articles are perceived as equally credible as human-written content, while others raise concerns about misinformation and trust erosion Most studies focus on journalists’ views, with audience attitudes explored mainly through quantitative methods, though there is no consensus regarding the acceptability of AI use by news organizations. We explore AI’s role in journalism through audience research, conducting five focus groups to understand public perceptions. The findings highlight concerns about AI-generated content, particularly potential errors, opacity, and coldness of the content. The information is perceived as somewhat less valuable, being viewed as more automated and requiring less human effort. These concerns coexist with a certain view of AI content as more objective, unbiased, and closer to the ideal of independence from political and economic pressures. Nevertheless, citizens with more AI knowledge question the neutrality of automated content, suspecting biases from corporate interests or journalists influencing the prompts. Full article

South Africans enjoy increasing access to digital connectivity. But little is known about the roles that mobile phones play in the everyday lives of young South Africans who live in marginalized spaces. Responding to this gap in the literature, we conducted research with a naturally occurring group of sixteen young adults, between the ages of 18 and 34, living in an under-resourced Eastern Cape township. Using the mobile diary method, we asked these young people how they use their mobiles as part of everyday sociality and to support their well-being. The article (1) reflects on the efficacy of the mobile diary method as a means of understanding our respondents’ lives and worlds; and (2) presents four themes emerging from the data generated by this method: “waithood”, “music”, “fakes”, and “wellbeing”. We conclude that the mobile diary method generates rewardingly rich data that reveal the complexity of township digitality and sociality. This texture avoids simplistic binaries and does justice to the experiences of young people in marginalized contexts. Full article

The goal of the study is to reveal the reasons (strategies) behind the use of “virtual masks” (fake profiles and altered identities) by real (human) users of social media networks (SMNs) within a cultural context, specifically in Armenia. Applying Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Theory and concepts of virtual identity, the research explores how users construct their online personas, either reflecting their real identities or modifying them to achieve specific communicative goals. A statistical analysis of the most popular SMNs in Armenia, combined with semi-structured interviews with 400 users, reveals diverse approaches to virtual communication. While SMNs facilitate news consumption, socializing, and professional networking, many users deliberately conceal personal information or engage in deceptive practices. Approximately 35% prefer anonymity when following others, and 24% of men and 11% of women admit to posting false information. Additionally, 26% of men and 12% of women alter their online appearance to enhance attractiveness. The study also highlights the role of anonymity in expressing controversial opinions, particularly in political discussions. Men are more inclined than women to create fake accounts and manipulate information to avoid social repercussions. Ultimately, the study highlights how “virtual masks” in Armenia reflect both cultural attitudes and broader global digital communication trends. Full article

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also ignited a battleground in the domain of information. The conflict has been accompanied by a relentless disinformation offensive designed to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic processes. This paper deals with the role of academia and scholars in focusing this information warfare. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of scientific articles to examine how researchers and institutions have addressed fact-checking initiatives. To this end, performance analysis and literature review are combined to observe the state of academic investigations on fact-checking during the first thousand days of war in Ukraine (from 24 February 2022 to 19 November 2024). To do this, we identified 595 fact-checking articles in the Web of Science database within the “Social Sciences” category and narrowed the focus to 270 articles in the field of “Communication”. Finally, through an in-depth literature review of eight manuscripts, we seek to understand the specific strategies employed by academics to address the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through fact-checking. Our findings suggest that fact-checking research on the Russia–Ukraine war predominantly examines the impact of disinformation in conflict contexts, the role of media literacy in countering false narratives, and the contribution of citizen journalism to verification efforts. These conclusions can shed light on the crucial role of academia in safeguarding truth and fostering informed public debate in an era of information overload and manipulation. Full article

This study aims to examine the impact of social media on interpersonal communication patterns in Jordan and determine whether there are gender differences. Through adopting a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 50 Facebook users in Jordan chosen based on a self-selection method, comprising 24 men and 26 women, and two semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with randomly selected 10 men and 10 women. The quantitative analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences between genders in terms of nonverbal communication and communication roles. However, no significant differences were found in verbal communication, listening, feedback, context, communication channels, and conflict resolution. The qualitative data provided further insight into the findings, demonstrating how cultural and societal norms, particularly those related to gender roles, influence interactions on social media. The participants expressed a range of perspectives on how social media impacts their communication, with many noting changes in communication dynamics due to increased exposure to global influences. In line with Genderlect Theory this study highlights the role of gender, demonstrating that while traditional gender-based communication styles endure, they are progressively shaped by the dynamic and evolving nature of digital interactions. Full article