"The Dynamics of News Production in Smart Newsrooms: A survey Study on Employees in News Agencies"

Abstract

This study aims to achieve several scholarly objectives, most notably measuring the impact of employing digital tools and artificial intelligence on the professional performance of staff—specifically regarding efficiency, speed, and accuracy—as well as understanding the nature of the relationship between staff and the audience within a media environment characterized by interactivity and participation. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the key challenges faced by news agency personnel when integrating artificial intelligence tools into the journalistic production process, adopting the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as its theoretical framework. The study population comprised staff members from three news agencies: the Iraqi News Agency, the Middle East News Agency (MENA), and Agence France-Presse (AFP). The researcher selected a purposive sample from these agencies and employed a questionnaire—featuring various themes, questions, and scales—to gauge respondents' views on the adoption of smart technologies, their impact on job performance quality, and their influence on news content production dynamics. Paper questionnaires were distributed at the agencies' headquarters, while a link to an online version was sent via LinkedIn to staff members who could not be reached through conventional means. Additionally, interviews were conducted with media professionals representing the three agencies to gain deeper insight into the practices and challenges faced by news agency staff. Following data collection and analysis, the study concluded that news agency newsrooms are undergoing a gradual transition from traditional models to digital ones characterized by interactivity and media integration. The findings also revealed a positive correlation between the use of digital tools and the level of professional performance; most respondents affirmed that artificial intelligence accelerates digital content production and enhances the accuracy and objectivity of news, while also raising points regarding ethical considerations.