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AI use in local journalism in Türkiye's Aegean Region

Source article: Navigating AI Without a Roadmap: Local Journalists’ Pragmatic Adoption and the Institutional Void in Türkiye

Although research on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism in Türkiye has been increasing, studies focusing on local journalists’ everyday journalistic practices and whether they have institutional guidance in their use of AI remain quite limited. This study aims to examine local journalists’ perceptions of AI, their forms of use, their evaluations of opportunities and risks, and their views on institutional support. Within the scope of qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were con…

By the Truvace desk2 min read1 sourcePeer-reviewedTRV-2026-1977· cite & verify
Navigating AI Without a Roadmap: Local Journalists’ Pragmatic Adoption and the Institutional Void in Türkiye
The handbook of journalism; all about newspaper work.--Facts and information of vital moment to the journalist and to all who would enter this calling by Fowler, Nathaniel Clark, 1858-1918. Public domain
Trace impact readingContested
P 67The P score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the grounded problem claim with the strength of this Trace’s cited sources.

Both sides are scored from claims and sources, not community votes.

G 65The G score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the grounded gain claim with the strength of this Trace’s cited sources.

In brief

Researchers interviewed 12 local journalists at media organisations in Türkiye's Aegean Region about how they perceive and use AI. The interviews were analysed thematically. Journalists described using AI as a supportive tool for both visual and textual work in news production.

The findings matter because newsrooms are adopting AI without organisational rules, leaving ethical judgment and skill preservation to individuals. The study is qualitative and small, so it cannot show how widespread these practices are or how outcomes would be measured, and it points toward policy, training, and human oversight as needs.

Main points

  1. The study used semi-structured interviews with 12 local journalists in Türkiye's Aegean Region.
  2. Participants use AI as a visual and textual support tool in news production.
  3. They reported speed and efficiency benefits from AI.
  4. They also raised ethical concerns and fears of weakening professional skills.
  5. Adoption is shaped by individual initiative rather than institutional guidance or formal policy.

The gain

Interviewed local journalists in Türkiye's Aegean Region said AI used as a visual and textual support tool in news production gives them speed and efficiency.

The problem

Local journalists' AI adoption is driven by individual initiative without institutional guidance or formal policy, and participants worry about ethics and weakening professional skills.

The rundown

The research addresses a gap: although studies of AI's effect on journalism in Türkiye are increasing, few examine everyday practices of local journalists or whether they receive institutional guidance.

Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and evaluated through thematic analysis, covering journalists' perceptions of AI, forms of use, views of opportunities and risks, and opinions on institutional support.

The authors conclude that institutional policies need developing, training opportunities should increase, and human oversight should be maintained in AI-supported journalism.

What this doesn’t fix

The evidence rests on qualitative interviews with only 12 local journalists in one region, so the findings reflect self-reported perceptions and cannot be generalised.

Sources

  1. Peer-reviewedJournalism Practice2026-10-14

The debate