AI and Algorithmic Journalism in the Newsroom – From the US to the UAE

Abstract

This case study explores the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming the journalism industry through a practice known as Algorithmic Journalism (AJ). While AI tools offer efficiency by automating routine newsroom tasks such as transcription, story curation, and headline generation, their integration raises pressing ethical concerns. These include the erosion of journalistic independence, the potential for algorithmic bias, and the tension between profit-driven automation and truth-driven reporting. Drawing comparisons between democratic and autocratic contexts, the case contrasts the use of AI in U.S. newsrooms—where journalists serve as watchdogs of power—with the tightly controlled press environments of places like the UAE. It highlights the dilemmas journalists face when relying on data-driven trends over human editorial judgment and emphasizes the need for transparency, human oversight, and culturally informed regulation of AI technologies. As media corporations embrace AI to increase speed and output, the case urges a rethinking of news values, press ethics, and the public interest in an era where algorithms may increasingly shape what we read, watch, and believe.