User Experience and Media Design in Saudi Digital Journalism: A Comparative Study of Migratory and Original Newspapers

Abstract

Abstract This doctoral thesis explores the relationship between interface design and user experience in Saudi digital newspapers, with a specific emphasis on the contrast between migratory platforms (originating from print) and born-digital platforms. It addresses a critical gap in digital journalism literature, where online newspapers are often treated as structurally equivalent, with limited attention given to their institutional legacies or divergent design trajectories. In the Saudi context - where digital transformation aligns closely with state-led reforms under Vision 2030- this distinction becomes particularly significant. Interface design in this setting reflects not only functional usability considerations but also deeper editorial philosophies and ideological commitments. The study is grounded in a reconceptualised framework of Media Richness Theory (MRT), wherein interface richness is articulated across five dimensions: Layout Clarity, Multimedia Integration, Interactivity, Personalisation and Customisation, and Aesthetic and Emotional Engagement. These dimensions provided a consistent analytical lens across all phases of the research. Methodologically, the study adopts a multi-phase, mixed-methods approach underpinned by a pragmatic epistemology. Phase One involves a quantitative content analysis of the front pages of ten Saudi digital newspapers (five migratory, five born-digital), systematically coding design attributes aligned with MRT. Phase Two consists of a mixed-method user experience (UX) experiment with Generation Z participants (n=18), combining behavioural metrics, think-aloud protocols, and screen-recorded task performance to capture real-time cognitive and affective responses. Phase Three employs semi-structured post-experience interviews to elicit reflective narratives concerning platform interaction, design perception, and emotional resonance. Findings from Phase One reveal significant structural divergences between platform types. Born-digital outlets exhibited stronger integration of multimedia elements, clearer visual hierarchies, and more prominent interactive affordances. Phase Two demonstrated that born-digital platforms facilitated more fluid user navigation and reduced cognitive friction, while legacy platforms often triggered frustration due to visual clutter, unclear icons, or delayed responsiveness. Interview data from Phase Three further highlighted Generation Z’s expectations for intuitive, transparent, and participatory digital environments expectations that were more consistently met by born-digital interfaces. Across all phases, the research shows that institutional origin remains a powerful determinant of interface design strategy, which in turn shapes both user cognition and emotional experience, including perceptions of usability, interactivity, and layout clarity among Generation Z users. The thesis contributes to theory by expanding Media Richness Theory into the domain of interface design in digital journalism. It also advances UX methodology by demonstrating the value of triangulating structural analysis, real-time behavioural observation, and post-interaction reflection. Practically, it offers evidence-based recommendations for Saudi and regional news organisations seeking to enhance digital engagement with younger audiences. By positioning the interface as a site of institutional meaning-making, communicative richness, and user affect, the study reaffirms the centrality of design in shaping the future of journalism in Arab digital contexts.