Determinants of journalists’ acceptance of using virtual reality (VR) in news production in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
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Mokhtar Elareshi
Mokhtar Elareshi*, is an Associate Professor of PR and Communication Studies, at the College of Communication, University of Sharjah, UAE. Elareshi earned a PhD, Media and Communication Department, University of Leicester (2013). His research interests include news consumption, young adults’ media habits, social media, mobile phone use, e-marketing, e-learning, political communication.
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Abdulkrim Ziani
Abdulkrim Ziani, is a Full Professor in Digital Journalism and Communication Studies at Communication & Media College, Al Ain University, UAE. Among his special areas of interest are Digital Media, Arab Journalism, Communication Studies, New Media, Digital Journalism.
Hesham Mesbah, is a Full Professor in Communication Studies at Department of Communication, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, US. Prof. Mesbah’s research agenda includes comparative cognitive effects of news media, new media, and the impact of mass communication on social capital, public opinion, social openness, and perception of globalization. He has numerous peer-refereed publications and conference presentations in both English and Arabic.
Saleh Alwahaishi, a Senior Lecturer of Information System, Business School, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. He is an IBM certified data science and cybersecurity practitioner. He received his PhD in Informatics from Technical University of Ostrava, US. His research interests include primarily in the areas of ITC adoption and use, educational planning and administration, privacy and culture, and E-commerce.
Abstract
This study identifies and predicts the factors that determine journalists’ acceptance of VR in journalism and news production, and their intention to adopt this technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A total of 787 online survey responses were analyzed. On a theoretical level, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs were used to identify the independent variables and develop the research hypotheses. The study found that perceived efficiency of VR is related to the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of VR in journalism. Respondents’ behavioral intentions to accept and adopt VR in journalism are contingent upon how these journalists perceive VR as an innovative way to reach audiences and engage them. The paper contributes to our understanding of respondents’ behavioral intentions to accept and adopt VR in journalism. Those intensions are contingent upon how these journalists perceive VR as an innovative way to reach audiences and engage them, including how various media outlets around the world are using VR.
About the authors
Mokhtar Elareshi*, is an Associate Professor of PR and Communication Studies, at the College of Communication, University of Sharjah, UAE. Elareshi earned a PhD, Media and Communication Department, University of Leicester (2013). His research interests include news consumption, young adults’ media habits, social media, mobile phone use, e-marketing, e-learning, political communication.
Abdulkrim Ziani, is a Full Professor in Digital Journalism and Communication Studies at Communication & Media College, Al Ain University, UAE. Among his special areas of interest are Digital Media, Arab Journalism, Communication Studies, New Media, Digital Journalism.
Hesham Mesbah, is a Full Professor in Communication Studies at Department of Communication, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, US. Prof. Mesbah’s research agenda includes comparative cognitive effects of news media, new media, and the impact of mass communication on social capital, public opinion, social openness, and perception of globalization. He has numerous peer-refereed publications and conference presentations in both English and Arabic.
Saleh Alwahaishi, a Senior Lecturer of Information System, Business School, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. He is an IBM certified data science and cybersecurity practitioner. He received his PhD in Informatics from Technical University of Ostrava, US. His research interests include primarily in the areas of ITC adoption and use, educational planning and administration, privacy and culture, and E-commerce.
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