Examining News Innovation Narratives, Practices and Institutional Logics: A Study on GenAI Adoption in Egyptian Newsrooms

AI and algorithms play a crucial role in the processes of gathering, filtering and sharing news. But scholars have focused primarily on the use of such tools in big western media organizations, leaving outlets in developing countries under-researched. This paper aims to redress the balance by examining the use of Generative AI tools in Egyptian newsrooms on three levels: narrative, practice and technological infrastructure, including wider technological and organizational factors that facilitate or hinder innovation adoption. In doing so, the paper employs diffusion of innovation and institutional logics as conceptual frameworks and adopts 26 in-depth interviews with journalists, chief editors, developers and media experts at four newsrooms in Egypt. Findings demonstrated how news innovation becomes a priority when it not only aligns with the newsroom’s external marketing strategy as an early adopter of smart tech, but also when it proves to be financially viable with low tech-related costs, and has the potential to increase profitability. Individual journalists are burdened with the responsibility of self-learning about news technology, including GenAI tools. This added workload makes them less inclined to significantly transform their daily work routines, leading to more resistance to adopting change or innovation.