Media Professionals Gather to Address AI's Role in Newsrooms
Media academics and professionals will convene in Riyadh on Tuesday for a two-day conference examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry. The Saudi Association for Media and Communication is organizing "Artificial Intelligence Media: Opportunities and Challenges."
AI is already embedded throughout media operations. Jareh Al-Marshidi, vice president of the Saudi Association for Media and Communication, said the technology handles everything from scriptwriting to distribution and audience targeting. The central tension, he said, is maintaining professional and ethical standards while using tools that produce content at speed.
Education Must Catch Up
Media curricula lag behind industry practice. Prof. Mohammed Al-Qaari from Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University said some academic programs still treat technology as peripheral, even though AI underpins content production, distribution, and analysis.
Al-Qaari called for incorporating data analysis, algorithmic thinking, and generative AI tools early in degree programs. Faculty members also need training - some remain hesitant to adopt these technologies, he said.
Research Capacity Matters
Prof. Mutlaq Al-Mutairi warned that limited research capacity in the Arab world could slow innovation. Reliance on bureaucratic systems weakens the ability to keep pace with technological change, he said. Strengthening scientific research and supporting knowledge-based policies are essential to avoid falling behind.
Reporters Aren't Replaceable
AI cannot replicate the judgment journalists apply to their work. Ahmed Al-Dayhani, a correspondent for Monte Carlo Radio in Saudi Arabia, said reporters use experience to interpret information, compare it with real conditions, and identify trends.
AI-generated content risks confusing audiences, Dayhani said. He urged editors to distinguish between high- and low-quality material.
Lafi Al-Rashidi, a Saudi TV news anchor, offered a similar view: AI is a useful support tool but requires careful application. Misuse leads to superficial content, he said, while proper use can improve media quality.
For AI for PR & Communications professionals, the conference underscores a practical reality - the technology works best when it augments human expertise, not replaces it.
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