Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Spring an Oasis to the Local News Deserts?

AI is having a transformational impact on journalistic practice, as it is now part of news gathering, production and delivery around the world, from small local newsrooms to global organizations. At the same time the collapse of local news provision is having dire consequences for local communities and, more broadly, for democratic societies. As news deserts are on the rise in Europe, the need to study this phenomenon and address risks and opportunities for regional/local media in different geographic contexts is important. Focusing on Greece, a media market that has undergone severe economic recession, this study advances knowledge about what AI can do to transform journalism practice in the countries that belong to the broader Mediterranean basin. It investigates how the Greek local journalists perceive AI technology. Furthermore, it identifies constraints and explores opportunities for the use of AI in Greek local newsrooms. To address these aims, this study employs a survey to examine the implementation of AI in local newsrooms, specifically focusing on its integration into the daily routine of local journalists. Our findings suggest that local media journalists remain largely unaware of the potential AI tools that could significantly enhance their daily tasks.