Artificial intelligence in news analysis: social and ethical implications for media practice

Abstract

This study examines artificial intelligence (AI) as a socio-technical phenomenon and explores its ethical and social implications for professional news analysis across selected MENA contexts. A qualitative approach was adopted through interviews with 31 experts in news analysis and editorial management. The study investigated the use of AI in digital media production, its potential applications, and associated ethical considerations. The findings indicate that AI can enhance analytical processes by supporting text interpretation, theme identification, misinformation detection, and data-driven editorial decision-making. However, experts emphasized that automated content generation and summarization systems cannot fully replicate human interpretive journalism, which requires contextual understanding, cultural awareness, and narrative sensitivity. The results also reveal that traditional media organizations maintain stricter human-in-the-loop oversight standards than digital platforms when implementing AI technologies. The study highlights key ethical concerns, including transparency, bias, accountability, and public trust. It proposes a framework that positions AI as a supportive tool rather than an autonomous agent and emphasizes the importance of professional training, clear editorial policies, and culturally informed AI adoption strategies to ensure responsible integration in news analysis.