Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CURRENT SITUATION OF SAUDI PRINT NEWSPAPER IN THE DIGITAL ERA: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alharthi, Fahad Saud; Castellon, Babnon; Dolores, MariaPrint Journalsm in ine Kingaom ol saudi Aradia, as in most pars ol tne woria, taces unprecedented challenges due to the rapid digital transformations that have reshaped the entire media landscape. The widespread and accelerated adoption of digital platforms and social media has led to a significant decline in newspaper readership, as well as a notable reduction in advertising and commercial revenues. These developments raise fundamental questions about the future of print journalism and its capacity to survive in an increasingly dynamic and digitally driven media environment. In response to these shifts, the present study aims to provide a comprehensive and scientific analysis of the current state of Saudi print journalism in light of the digital revolution. The research explores the transformations experienced by this sector, investigates the challenges it currently faces, and anticipates potential opportunities that may help enhance its sustainability and adaptability to ongoing changes. The study was guided by three main and interrelated objectives. The first objective was to examine the impact ot digital plattorms on saudı print journalısm through the analysıs ot several intluentia factors, hiefly economic, professional, and human, that play a central role in shaping the current landscape of journalism and its capacity to adapt to the transformations imposed by the digital age. The second objective focused on analyzing the economic repercussions resulting from the significant decline in revenues from advertising, distribution, and marketing, particularly over the last decade, during which the print sector experienced substantial contraction. The third objective explored the professional consequences of this decline, assessing its impact on human resources within journalistic institutions, including journalists, editors, and administrators, and evaluating the extent to which these changes are associated with digital transformation in terms of both statistical significance and practical effect. To achieve these goals, the study employed a mixed-methods research approach using a sequential explanatory design. The first phase consisted of quantitative data collection through a structured 13 questionnaire administered to a random sample of 225 employees working across three of the Kingdom's most prominent newspapers: Okaz, Al-Jazirah, and Al-Rivadh. These newspapers were purposefully selected for their wide circulation, broad and diverse readership, and dual-format (print and dıgıtal) publishing, making them an ideal model for examining the evolution of print journalism in the digital era. Following the analysis of quantitative data using appropriate statistical methods, the research transitioned into its second phas, qualitative inquiry. This involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 30 participants drawn from the original pool of respondents who had indicated their willingness to take part in the follow-up phase. The aim of this qualitative component was to deepen the interpretation of the quantitative results and to provide richer insight into the professional and social contexts that shape the lived realities of ournalists in Saudı Arabia The study's findings demonstrated that the Saudi print journalism sector is undergoing a significant decline in both readership and public engagement, accompanied by a continuing drop in advertising revenues and mounting difficulties in sustaining viable economic models. Moreover, the research uncovered a substantial knowledge and skills gap among some journalists regarding the use of digital media tools, a deficiency that diminishes the sector's competitiveness and hampers its ability to adapt to a changing environment. At the same time, the study also revealed that print newspapers still retain a symbolic and formal role in certain institutional settings, especially in relation to government announcements and official communications, which allows them to preserve some of their traditional functions. Notablv. the research identitied several promising opportunities to enhance the sustainabilitv of print journalism in the Kingdom. These include adopting hybrid publishing models that integrate both print and digital formats; developing engaging, interactive multimedia content; expanding visibility and influence on social media platforms; diversifying revenue streams through subscriptions, digital services, and partnerships; and strengthening collaboration with governmental, educational, and technological institutions. Building on these insights, the study concludes with a set of practical, evidence-based recommendations aimed at guiding the print journalism sector through this period of transformation. These recommendations include adopting a freemium digital model that offers both free and premium content, enhancing public engagement through innovative digital marketing strategies, investing in journalist training programs focused on digital literacy and multimedia production, offering novel advertising incentives, and supporting government policies that reinforce the visibility and distribution of print newspapers within institutional frameworks. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of preserving the cultural, historical, and documentary legacy of print journalism as an essential component of the nation's collective memory. In conclusion, this study represents a significant academic contribution to understanding the profound transformations currently reshaping the media environment in Saudi Arabia. It offers a reliable foundation for the formulation of balanced and future-oriented media policies and paves the way for future studies aimed at examining how traditional media institutions and wider society can effectively adapt to the realities of the digital era.8 0Item Restricted The Impact of YouTube on the Choice of Academic Majors for First-Year Students at the College of Sociology Sciences and Media at the University of Jeddah(Swansea University, 2024) Alsulami, Adel; Jones, RhysThe purpose of this dissertation is to examine the impact of YouTube on first-year students’ choice of academic majors at the College of Media and Communication of the University of Jeddah. The study used the quantitative research design and stratified random sampling to analyze and interpret the data gathered with the help of a questionnaire. The responses to the questions were studied with descriptive and inferential tools of the statistics. The results indicated that the attitude toward YouTube was significant, as most students agreed that this social network had influenced their academic and career choices. The current research also discusses the role of media literacy and social networks in students’ behaviors and the perspectives and implications for the perception of YouTube as one of the tools to improve educational accessibility. Thus, the results indicate to the necessity to include media literacy into the curricula to develop students’ abilities to analyze the information and make better choices regarding their majors. The use of YouTube is also analyzed in the context of the development and implementation of policies and strategies aimed at increasing student enrollment. Overall, the research indicates the role YouTube plays in the education field and the changes that can be related to the peculiarities of the further development of this social network and the availability of alternative educational resources.15 0Item Restricted The Impact of Using Social Media on Students’ Engagement and Attainment in Nursing Education in Saudi Arabia(King's College London, 2023-10-11) Almutairi, Malak; Simpson, AlanAbstract Background The availability of social media has transformed global connectivity within education systems. Social media has been used in various educational contexts. The widespread use of social media has prompted a demand for a better understanding of how it might be used in nursing education. Most nursing students in Saudi Arabia are active users of social media, but the potential benefits of such media for educational purposes may not be fully realised. While research has previously explored the positive effects of using social media on a range of learning outcomes in nursing education, studies have not specifically focused on how these positive features have an impact on students’ engagement and attainment as vital components of successful learning. Aim To investigate the impact of social media use on student engagement and educational attainment in pre-licensure nursing programmes in Saudi Arabia. Methods To accomplish this aim, two distinct studies were conducted. The first study was a systematic review of literature examined the value of social media use in improving nursing students’ engagement. The second study conducted over two phases, used a mixed methods embedded design, which are: (i) quantitative study phase: in which the secondyear nursing cohorts from two universities participated in the intervention, using Twitter, with total of (n=254) students were divided into experimental and control groups for 4 quantitative analysis. A questionnaire measured student engagement before and after applying the intervention. Attainment data were collected through the faculty. (ii) qualitative study phase was semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus groups with students were conducted to explore their perceptions and experiences of using social media in nursing education. Findings The synthesised findings from the systematic review yielded five themes that showed social media uses for nursing students’ engagement, as follows: 1) interaction and communication, 2) managing stress, 3) positive online community, 4) time spent, and 5) digital literacy and e-professionalism. In the second study, the quantitative phase incorporating the Twitter intervention, resulted in a significant improvement in engagement compared to control (experimental group (88.5% ± 14.9%) versus control (51.8% ± 10.4%) p<0.001). Attainment for the experimental group was also significantly increased compared to control, (experimental group 91.6 ± 4.5 versus control 83.9 ± 5.7; p< 0.001). In the qualitative phase, a total of six male and female academics were participated, in addition, twenty male and female students recruited to participate in the focus groups from both universities. Three core themes were found: a theme linked to considerations of using the application, a theme that linked to features of the experience that linked to engagement, and finally, recognition of the utility of the platform to influence the grades attained. Discussion 5 The systematic review undertaken as first part of this research revealed that using social media to support nursing students’ learning has positive benefits in terms of promoting several aspects of their engagement, such as rapid interaction and communication. Further empirical studies, however, should aim to measure social media’s effects on nursing students’ engagement with their courses and their academic attainment. Thus, the main study comprised a multicentre empirical investigation demonstrated that using social media such as Twitter can improve students’ engagement with their curriculum; in this instance, the increased engagement was associated with a significant increase in the grades attained. The qualitative data further revealed that students found the use of the platform challenging but rewarding and appreciated the ease of communication afforded by such a platform to enhance engagement with their faculty and peers. Overall, it was felt this enhanced engagement contributed to improved grades. A limitation of the study was that the intervention was used only in one semester and was a such a novel interaction that it may not be sustained if employed throughout the curricula. It must be remembered the intervention was conducted during the pandemic; results obtained from online learning approaches during that period may not represent those produced during traditional face-to-face curriculum delivery. Conclusion This study demonstrates that systematic use of social media is effective in nursing education. Using Twitter showed to enhance students’ engagement with their curricula, resulting in improved academic achievement. Further research should investigate the long term use social media for educating nursing student.27 0Item Restricted Saudi-Arab Emerging Video Game Cultures, Archetypes, Narratives, and User Experiences(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-05) Alkhamees, Omar Abdulaziz S; Yecies, BrianArab representation in literature and media has been a major focus of many works of renowned scholars, such as Edward Said (1978), Shaheen (2000), Karim (2005) and others. Journalism, film, television, and ancient literature have all been studied in these works. A recent addition to the study of Arab representation is the medium of video games. This was first examined by Reichmuth and Werning (2006) and Machin and Suleiman (2006) and extended by many works that are discussed in this thesis. The vast majority of the literature on Arab representation in video games focuses on Western video games and the reaction of Arab developers to these representations. Lack of specificity is another characteristic of this field. Both characteristics manifest in repeated comparative studies, where scholars select one local culture as an archetype, then embark on a comparative study of the global gaming community. In so doing, there is an unfair generalisation of Arab identity across broad and diverse regions, in terms of ethnic, ideological, national, historical, and even linguistic components. The present investigation critiques the shortcomings of this previous literature, while testing some alternative methods and approaches needed to re-examine the lack of access, language barriers and the aforementioned generalisations that have limited this field until now. Rather than assuming a single archetype for Saudi culture, this thesis departs from previous scholarship by examining the various aspects of the transformation process leading to what could be called an emergent “Saudiness”. Specifically, this study examines the construction and depiction of Saudi-Arab identity through the narratives and audiovisual content of video games, paying close attention to recent developments in Saudi cultural and media policy and the mandates set forth by the Vision 2030 development plan (SCEDA, 2016). Using theories on participatory culture (Jenkins, 2009) and spreadable media (Jenkins, Ford, and Green, 2013) as well as a content analysis of previously understudied material shared by a cohort of Saudi gamers, this research investigates the particular markers and strategies used to distinguish the spectrum of cultural aspects and elements with which Saudi gamers identify. To achieve this, the analysis focuses on three distinct archetypes of Saudi Arabs in video games: (a) the Saudis in Western video games, as suggested by previous works; (b) the Saudi citizen archetype, as recommended by state policy; and (c) the Saudi culture, as represented by Saudi gamers and Saudi game producers -- who in many cases reject the idea of a single archetype. In sum, this research sheds new light on the interactions between centralised and decentralised media in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Saudi gamers' sense of agency, demonstrating how Saudis perceive Saudi representations in video games as part of a complex spectrum of interactions within a larger global gaming community.45 0