Journalists’ perceptions, attitudes, and uses of artificial intelligence: Evidence from Türkiye, Iraq, and Syria

Mihrali Köseliören 1 * , Bahadır Uçan 1
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1 Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
* Corresponding Author
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, Volume 16, Issue 3, Article No: e202640. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18937
OPEN ACCESS   40 Views   11 Downloads   Published online: 07 Jul 2026
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ABSTRACT

This study aims to analyze the attitudes, perceptions, and usage practices of journalists working in Türkiye, Iraq, and Syria regarding artificial intelligence (AI). These countries are located in the Middle East region, where censorship and authoritarianism are on the rise, and regional conflicts are common. A survey was conducted with 620 practicing journalists across three countries using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The findings indicate that journalists in Türkiye hold more critical perceptions of AI tools and adopt a cautious and selective approach to their journalistic practices. In Syria, the use of AI was found to be pragmatic and comparatively more positive, being driven by professional necessity rather than by attitudinal factors. In Iraq, journalists were found to hold relatively neutral attitudes toward the use of AI. Therefore, the study provides a comparative and context-specific contribution to understanding Middle Eastern journalists’ perceptions and use of AI. Accordingly, the study extends the existing journalism and AI literature beyond predominantly Western-centered perspectives.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, journalism, Middle East, Türkiye, Iraq, Syria

CITATION

Köseliören, M., & Uçan, B. (2026). Journalists’ perceptions, attitudes, and uses of artificial intelligence: Evidence from Türkiye, Iraq, and Syria. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 16(3), e202640. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/18937

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