Journal of Digital Media & Policy - Digital Transformation and Media Policy in the MENA Region, Jun 2025

This study’s research looks at how ready media institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are to adopt and use new communication challenges (NCTs) like artificial intelligence (AI) and what the implications are for content production, digitization of work environment and professional practices. The study integrates the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) adopting both quantitative and qualitative methods. It uses in-depth interviews with five directors of digital divisions in UAE media institutions and a questionnaire sampling 40 journalists in UAE media institutions. Findings indicate UAE newsrooms use AI and NCTs effectively, bringing innovation to news production and new tools allowing greater interaction and engagement with audiences and use of infographics for storytelling. The new technologies also allow for the dissemination of news to large audiences, nationally and globally, whilst facilitating the automation of some content production processes. Findings also identified more progress is needed to ensure UAE media institutions successfully integrate the new technologies and for their staff to be qualified to use them.

This article presents a dual analysis of the Israeli TV series Our Boys and its media reception in Israel. Co-produced by HBO and Keshet Broadcasting, the series portrays the 2014 kidnapping and murder of a Palestinian youth by young Jewish boys in Jerusalem. It sparked significant debate in Israeli society, particularly in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The research reveals how Our Boys reflects and influences societal attitudes, and highlights the media’s role in reflecting public discourse in a conflict-ridden context. The article also explores the series’ portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing in a subversive way the asymmetry between Israelis and Palestinians. Analysis of newspaper commentaries and X (formerly Twitter) posts by influencers underscores the significant impact of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the societal divide between Israeli ‘right’ and ‘left’.

This study examines the ethical governance and regulatory challenges of deepfake technologies within the context of rapid artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It explores the role of trust in AI’s integration into digital media, critically assessing the UAE’s regulatory frameworks. Using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of policy documents and insights from a Delphi study with experts in digital media, AI ethics and governance, the research identifies both strengths and significant gaps in existing policies. Findings highlight the need for greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and privacy, questioning the assumption of a fully proactive AI governance approach in the UAE. The proposed ethical AI global benchmark model offers a robust framework that balances innovation with ethical considerations, aligning with global standards. This article contributes insights into cultivating ethical governance in AI-driven media, particularly within the UAE’s unique sociopolitical context.

Data journalism, a concept widely developed in western contexts, has increasingly influenced the global media landscape, including the Arab world. However, its adoption in Jordan presents unique challenges due to systemic, cultural and institutional barriers. This study examines the usage, preferences, motivations and gratifications and challenges of data journalism among Jordanian journalists, employing a structured survey with 157 respondents from diverse media outlets. The findings reveal a limited reliance on data journalism, with journalists primarily using it to enhance writing skills and support stories with data-driven analysis. Despite recognizing its potential, many journalists cite inadequate training, restricted access to data and a lack of organizational support as significant hurdles. Respondents also showed minimal interest in using data journalism both professionally and personally, indicating a prevailing trend. Key motivations included staying updated on current events and simplifying complex information for audiences, while key gratifications focused on improving skills, enhancing professional experiences and tracking data more effectively. To address existing gaps and encourage broader adoption, our study suggests targeted training, improved data accessibility and the establishment of dedicated data journalism units.

This study traces the roots of Egypt’s telecommunication system from the colonial era when the British Empire established a cohesive communication system to control its territories to the present telecommunications laws by Egyptian officials who are attempting to control local dissent. This study also examines the role of telecommunication infrastructure in suppressing dissent in the country and contributes to the broader discourse on digital media and infrastructure by shedding light on how technological progress, often touted for its potential for individual freedom, is built on the history of oppression and serves the hegemony of the state. This article includes four major sections: the first focuses on the history of the telegraph and how it aided colonial dominance; the second focuses on the development of the internet in Egypt; the third analyses telecommunication laws and how they are developed in tandem with technological progress and the final section looks at current issues in the Egyptian digital sphere.

Review of: Sports Media Rights in the Age of Streaming and Platformisation, Tom Evens and Paul Smith (2025)

London: Routledge, 204 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-03251-392-8, p/bk, £36.99