Constructing the Role of AI in News Production: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Journalists’ Perceptions in Reporting Higher Education News in Malaysia and China

Abstract

Implementing artificial intelligence in news publishing implies criticism of the professional status and editorial control of journalists. This study comparatively analyses how news professionals at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia and China view the role of AI in news production, grounded in social constructivist and university social responsibility perspectives. The study reports a semi-passive pattern of AI incorporation exemplified by selective professional strategic prominence and professional boundary control through semi-structured, designed interviews of 16 journalists in The Star and China Daily. The results indicate that journalists across cultures share a professional identity as powerful players in AI use. In the context of university social responsibility, journalists in HEIs portray a more imposing AI boundary than mainstream media because of accuracy and multi-stakeholder requirements. These lessons have informed sustainable AI integration plans that will ensure that journalism maintains a high degree of integrity while ensuring efficiency.