Tomorrow's journalism and algorithms: Key discussions at the Saudi Media Forum

The Saudi Media Forum 2026 featured a strategic dialogue session titled "Journalism of Tomorrow: Truth in the Age of Algorithms," which highlighted the critical junctures the media sector is facing globally and locally in light of the increasing dominance of modern technologies. The session, moderated by Nawaf Al-Sayari, discussed the impact of rapid technological transformations on the core of journalistic work, and the ethical and professional challenges associated with the proliferation of algorithms and artificial intelligence applications in the news industry.

This session is of paramount importance given the current context, as the world is witnessing an unprecedented information revolution in which algorithms have become the primary driver of what the public sees and reads. The forum's focus on this topic underscores the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leading role in guiding the Arab media landscape toward adapting to digital transformations, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and innovation at the heart of its priorities.

Challenges of accuracy in economic journalism

In his intervention, Mohammed Al-Bishi emphasized that "the journalism of tomorrow" is no longer an option but a reality closely linked to technological infrastructure. He pointed to the unique challenge in economic newsrooms, where credibility depends on the language of numbers, which leaves no room for error. Al-Bishi explained that while algorithms have effectively contributed to accelerating the delivery of information to the public and saving time, they have also made journalistic work a minefield, especially with the increasing risks of fake news that can negatively impact financial markets and their stability.

Public awareness and exposing deception

For his part, Mohammed Zahid Gul addressed another aspect related to the audience, noting that public awareness of misleading and AI-generated content has developed significantly. Gul emphasized an important paradox: the very AI technologies used for manipulation are now providing advanced tools that help journalists and the public detect this manipulation and distinguish between genuine and fabricated content, thus creating a kind of digital balance in the future.

Governance of media institutions

In the context of institutional organization, Younes Mjahed stressed the need for media institutions not to leave themselves at the mercy of technological advancements without oversight. He called for clear policies and effective governance to manage the methodology of dealing with algorithms and the data they generate. Mjahed emphasized that understanding the "philosophy of algorithms" is the first step toward dealing with them professionally, ensuring they are harnessed to serve journalistic truth rather than being used as tools for misinformation.

The outcomes of this session reflect the expected impact of the Saudi Media Forum in shaping the future of media in the region, as it establishes new working rules that combine journalistic authenticity with technological development, thus enhancing the ability of Arab media to compete globally and maintain public trust in the post-truth era.