Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations A qualitative study into four newsrooms of traditional newspapers 1 Ahmed A. Alzahrani2 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Journalism Studies University of Sheffield September 2016 1 To cite this thesis: Alzahrani, A. (2016) Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press Organisations: A qualitative study into four newsrooms of traditional newspapers. PhD Thesis, University of Sheffield. 2 [email protected] Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations Abstract This is the first study of its kind about newsroom convergence and multi- skilled journalists in Saudi newspaper organisations and aimed to fill a gap in the literature about this particular issue in the Saudi context. The study investigated transformations, implications and consequences of technological convergence at four Saudi traditional newspaper organisations; Al-Madina, Alriyadh, Alyaum, and Alwatan. This thesis has explored the particular impacts of online journalistic production in traditional newspaper organisations to identify changes and perhaps challenges occurring in newspaper newsrooms. The study used the observation method in the four newsrooms and in-depth interviews with open ended questions with 60 professionals. The findings confirmed that there are ongoing transformations in the newsrooms. Yet, these transformations are challenged by regulatory, business, and cultural forces. Alyaum was the only newsroom to introduce new integrated newsroom. Journalists are observing and using new communication technologies in the workplace. However, there are difficulties in this process such as tensions in the newsrooms and shortage of qualified and trained journalists in the Saudi media market especially, multiskilled journalists. Despite embracing online and digital technology in news production and disruption, the four Saudi newspapers are still prioritising the traditional print side as it is generating more than 95 % of the annual revenue. Yet, the full integration of newsrooms between online and print newsrooms does not exist in Saudi press organisations. - 2 - Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations Acknowledgements I am indebted to many people who have contributed to my PhD thesis throughout my time at Sheffield; academically and personally. First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to my supervisors; Professor Jackie Harrison and Dr. Tony Harcup for their support, advice and encouragement throughout my thesis. Their generous help and constructive criticism contributed to my thesis. I also would like to thank Professor Martin Conboy, Chair of Confirmation Review Panel for his valuable comments and suggestions. I am also grateful to the internal and external examiners; Professor Piers Robinson and Dr. Kostas Saltzis for their valuable feedback and suggestions. I would also like to acknowledge academic staff and PGRs in the department of Journalism Studies for their feedback on my presentations in the postgraduate research seminars and thank the administrative team for the professional support they offer in the department for PhD researchers. I am also grateful to all journalists, managing editors, deputies, editors-in-chief, and general managers at the four Saudi newspapers: Al- Madina, Alriyadh, Alyaum, and Alwatan for their participation in this research project. Without their cooperation, this work could not have been accomplished. I hope outcomes of this research project will help academic and professional researchers in future research projects about Saudi media. Finally, I do express my deep appreciation to my parents for their continuous prayers and my wife for her endless support and understanding, and wish her good luck for her own PhD study. A huge thank you and a sincere apology must go to my children for being patient during my absence while I pursued the requirements of a PhD degree. - 3 - Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations Table of Contents Abstract …………………..……….………………………………………………2 Acknowledgements ………………..……………………………….……………..3 Table of contents …………………………..…………………….………………..4 Figures list ………………………………………...…….……………………….10 Abbreviations …………………………………….…………...…………………12 Part One: background of context and concepts for the study Chapter 1: Introduction ……………………………………..……….……..…..13 1.1 Introduction ………………….……………………………………..…………14 1.2 Rationale and Significance of the Study …………………….…….……….....17 1.3 Conceptual Framework of the Study ………………….…………….……..…19 1.4 Research design and questions ………………….……………………………22 1.5 Structure of the Thesis ………………….………….…………………………24 Chapter 2: Print Journalism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ………………27 2.1 Introduction ……….…………………………………………………………..28 2.2 Emergence and development of print journalism in Saudi Arabia ………...…29 2.2.1 Individual Press Ownership stage …….……………………...….…30 2.2.2 Press merging stage ……………………………………………..…34 2.2.3 Organisational Ownership Press Stage…….........................….……36 2.2.4 Online-only Press Stage ……………………………………...….…40 2.3 Media Regulations in Saudi Arabia ……………………………...……...……41 2.3.1 Printed Materials and Publication Law………………….…….……42 2.3.2 Press Establishments Law ………………………………….....……44 2.3.3 Executive Regulations of Electronic Publishing ……………..……45 2.3.4 Copyright Law ………….……………………………..………...…47 2.4 Circulation of Saudi Newspapers ……………………………………….……50 2.5 The Internet and newspapers’ newsrooms ………………...………….....……52 2.6 Saudi Newspaper Management and Newsrooms ……………………..………53 - 4 - Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations 2.8 Summary …………………………………………………………………...…56 Chapter 3: Conceptual Framework and Literature Review …………………57 3.1 Introduction …………………………………………...………………...….…58 3.2 News production as a sociological perspective ……………..…………….…59 3.3 Economics of newspaper organisations …………………………...…….……65 3.4 The Internet and newspaper industry …………………………………………74 3.5 Technological Convergence and media ……………………………...….……89 3.6 Convergence and changing newsroom: map of related studies ………………94 3.7 Summary ……………………………………………………………….……109 Part two: Research design, fieldwork, and findings Chapter 4: Research Methods …………………………………………...……112 4.1 Introduction ………………………………………..…………………...……113 4.2 The aim and the importance of the Study …………………………...………113 4.3 Research methods and design …………………………………...………..…116 4.3.1 Observation ……………………………………………...…………..…116 4.3.2 Interviews …………………………………………………..……..……118 4.4 Sampling and Selection Procedure ….……………………..…………..……120 4.5 Cases studies………………….………………………………….………..…122 4.5.1 Al-Madina Newspaper ……………………………………...….….……122 4.5.2 Alriyadh Newspaper ………………………………………...…….……123 4.5.3 Alyaum Newspaper ………………….……………………………….…124 4.5.4 Alwatan Newspaper ………………….…………………………………124 4.6 Research Questions …………………………………………………….……125 4.7 Research Ethics: procedures and practices ………………….…...……….…127 4.8 The fieldwork …………………………………………………………..……128 4.9 Summary …………………………………………………………….………132 Chapter 5: Findings at Al-Madina ………………………………….…...……133 5.1 Introduction ………………….……………………………………….……...134 - 5 - Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations 5.2 background of Al-Madina newspaper …………………..………………...…135 5.3 Newspaper management and newsroom structure …………………….….…135 5.4 Electronic Publishing Department ………………………………….….……138 5.5 Workflow and daily routine …………………………………………....……140 5.6 Editing and content management software packages ……………..……...…142 5.7 News circulation for traditional and digital users ………………..…….....…145 5.8 Main transformations at Al-Madina …………………………..………….…148 5.9 Main challenges face Al-Madina ………………………..….……………….152 5.10 Strategies of Al-Madina in the online age ……………..….………….……158 5.11 Journalists and current transitions …………………………………….……161 5.12 Summary ……………………………………………...…….…………...…165 Chapter 6: Findings at Alriyadh ………………………………...….…...……166 6.1 Introduction …………………………………………………….…………....167 6.2 background of Alriyadh newspaper …….……………………....………...…167 6.3 Newspaper management and newsroom structure ……………………….….168 6.4 Electronic Publishing Department ……………………...……….……..……171 6.5 Workflow and daily routine …………………………………...….…....……173 6.6 Editing and content management software packages ………...…………..…176 6.7 News circulation for traditional and digital users ………….......................…177 6.8 Main transformations at Alriyadh ……….………...…………………..….…178 6.9 Main challenges face Alriyadh …….………………………...………..…….183 6.10 Strategies of Alriyadh in the online age …….…………………...…………187 6.11 Journalists and current transitions …………………………………….……189 6.12 Summary ………………………………………………………….……..…194 Chapter 7: Findings at Alyaum …………………………..…………….……..195 7.1 Introduction …………………………………………...………………..……196 7.2 background of Alyaum newspaper ………….………………...……….……197 7.3 Newspaper management and newsroom structure ……………………..……197 - 6 - Alzahrani Newsroom Convergence in Saudi Press organisations 7.4 New Media Department ……………………………………….……….....…202 7.5 Workflow and daily routine ………………………………...………….……204 7.6 Editing and content management software packages …………………….…207 7.7 News circulation for traditional and digital users ……………………..….…208 7.8 Main transformations at Alyaum ……………………………...………….…210 7.9 Main challenges face Alyaum …………………………..……………..….…215 7.10 Strategies of Alyaum in the online age ……………………..……..….……222 7.11 Journalists and current transitions …………..…………………….……..…225 7.12 Summary ……….……………………..………...............................…….…228