AI Use in Marginalized Media Markets

This thematic issue explores AI-inspired newsroom practices in non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) nations, addressing an underexplored area in journalism studies. While extensive research exists on AI in WEIRD contexts (Broussard et. al, 2019; Milosavljević & Vobič, 2021; Thomson et al., 2024; Thurman et al., 2019), fewer studies focus on marginalized media settings or non-WEIRD societies. Limited research covers regions like Latin America (de-Lima-Santos et al., 2021; de-Lima-Santos & Salaverría, 2021; Mellado et al., 2024; Soto-Sanfiel et al., 2022), Asia (Jamil, 2021; Sharma & Bhardwa, 2024), Africa (Gondwe, 2024; Kothari & Cruikshank, 2021; Munoriyarwa et. al, 2023), and the Arab world (Abdulmajeed & Fahmy, 2023).

Considering Leiser’s (2022, p. 8) claim challenging AI’s existence, we examine the future of regions historically disadvantaged by or benefiting little from digital technology. This thematic issue aims to discuss how algorithmic or computational journalism (Anderson, 2012) is shaping newsroom cultures in the “Global South.” From perceptions to realities in AI use across “Southern newsrooms,” we seek papers that unlock the potential but also the challenges for the journalistic use of AI in marginalized societies. How are local journalists framing AI in these contexts? How are journalism training institutes integrating AI into their curricula? How is generative AI being used in spreading and countering misinformation? In what ways are “non-professional” actors such as social media influencers appropriating AI technology in gathering and spreading news? Accordingly, contributions are invited on a wide range of topics, including:

• AI adoption and adaptation in Global South media organizations;
• Perceptions and attitudes of journalists in non-WEIRD countries toward AI;
• Challenges and opportunities of implementing AI technologies in resource-constrained media outlets;
• The role of AI in addressing language barriers and promoting local language journalism in multilingual societies;
• AI and data journalism bridging the data divide in the Global South;
• Ethical considerations of AI use in journalism within culturally diverse contexts;
• AI-powered fact-checking tools and their effectiveness in combating mis- and disinformation in weak or young democracies;
• The impact of AI on journalistic roles and professional identity in non-Western contexts;
• AI in journalism education: Curriculum development and implementation in Global South institutions;
• Giving voice to marginalized societies using AI;
• AI and niche media;
• The role of AI in empowering community media and grassroots initiatives;
• AI-driven personalization and its impact on news diversity in fragmented societies;
• Regulatory frameworks and policy challenges for AI in media across different Global South regions;
• AI for bridging information gaps for exile media;
• The potential of AI in enhancing investigative journalism in countries with limited press freedom;
• AI adoption in commercially-owned vs. independent media outlets in non-WEIRD countries;
• AI’s role in improving access to news for people with disabilities in resource-limited settings;
• The impact of AI on news ecosystems and media sustainability.

We seek original and creative contributions focusing on a broad range of thematic approaches, conceptual frameworks, and diverse methodologies investigating journalism practice in the age of machine learning and AI. While our focus is predominantly non-Western societies, Western studies, particularly those focused on diasporic or exiled media, are also welcome.