Visualization acceptance among the data journalists in the United Arab Emirates: A structural equation modeling-based study

Faycal Farhi 1 * , Riadh Jeljeli 1, Abdelouahab Boukhenoufa 2, Mohamed Mallek 3, Kafia Lassouane 4
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1 Al Ain University, College of Communication and Media, Al Ain, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2 Sultan Qaboos University, Mascate, OMAN
3 University of Khorfakkan, College of Arts Sciences and Information Technology, Department of Communication, Sharjah, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
4 King Khaled University, Faculty of Humanities, Media and Communication Department, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
* Corresponding Author
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, Volume 14, Issue 4, Article No: e202447. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/14986
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ABSTRACT

New trends and practices in journalism and news-making contribute to data journalism’s increasing adoption and use. This study highlights and examines data journalism as a significant practice among journalists in the United Arab Emirates. Theoretically supported by social cognitive theory, data from 309 journals is analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results show a strong preference among Emirati journalists for using data journalism professionally. These journalists encode data using various visualization approaches to improve data availability and transparency for readers. Also, they prioritize assuring easy and understandable data decoding among audiences, potentially promoting critical thinking. Thus, the study concludes that Emirati journalists are assertive about adopting and using data journalism approaches to enhance their skills and provide transparent data to readers. Also, data journalism’s preference reflects technology’s integration into traditional journalism, transforming communication into a two-way process. Finally, the research discusses the study implications, limitations, and recommendations accordingly.
Keywords: data journalism, social cognitive theory, United Arab Emirates, journalism and media, visualization, decoding, encoding

CITATION

Farhi, F., Jeljeli, R., Boukhenoufa, A., Mallek, M., & Lassouane, K. (2024). Visualization acceptance among the data journalists in the United Arab Emirates: A structural equation modeling-based study. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 14(4), e202447. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/14986

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