Women Journalists in Surabaya: Role Interpretation in AI-Driven Media Transformation
Abstract
Background: The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed newsroom practices by accelerating news production and reshaping editorial decision-making. While previous studies have primarily examined AI from technological and organizational perspectives, limited attention has been given to how women journalists experience and negotiate these changes, particularly in local media contexts such as Surabaya. Purpose: This study examines how women journalists in Surabaya interpret and negotiate their professional roles amid AI-driven media transformation through the lens of Media Feminism Theory. Methods: This study employed a qualitative critical ethnographic approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis through open, axial, and selective coding. Results: The findings reveal four major themes: AI has transformed newsroom routines, supported journalistic work efficiency, influenced the visibility of women-related issues through algorithmic logic, and created new professional pressures for women journalists. Although AI improves productivity, participants emphasized that editorial judgment, ethical verification, and professional autonomy remain essential. The findings further indicate that algorithm-driven editorial practices may reinforce existing gender inequalities by reducing the visibility of women-centered issues and intensifying workload expectations. Conclusion: A media feminist perspective remains relevant for analysing the dynamics of the current digital media industry, particularly as algorithms begin to play a role in determining which issues are deemed important and worthy of public attention. Implications: This study extends Media Feminism Theory by demonstrating how AI-mediated newsroom transformation intersects existing gender structures, providing insights for developing more gender-sensitive AI.
Keywords
References
Albizu-Rivas, I., Parratt-Fernández, S., & Mera-Fernández, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence in slow journalism: journalists’ uses, perceptions, and attitudes. Journalism and Media, 5(4), 1836–1850.
Banafi, W. (2024). A review of the role of artificial intelligence in Journalism. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 8(6). https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i6.2865
Canavilhas, J. (2022). Artificial intelligence and journalism: current situation and expectations in the portuguese sports media. Journalism and Media, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030035
Carlson, M. (2022). Journalists, epistemology, and authority. In The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003174790-8
Ceide, C. F., Vaz-Álvarez, M., & González, I. M. (2024). Ai implementation strategies in the spanish press media: organizational dynamics, application flows, uses and future trends. Tripodos, 55(1). https://doi.org/10.51698/tripodos.2024.55.01
Dani, V. R., Ridwan, A., & Mustafa, R. K. (2025). Interpreting gender equality and women’s position in facing the risks of the world of journalism (Student Press). Jurnal Analisa Sosiologi, 14(1).
Deuze, M. (2005). What is journalism? Professional identity and ideology of journalists reconsidered. Journalism, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884905056815
Gobo, G., & Marciniak, L. (2016). What is etnography? Qualitative Research.
Gupta, V. P. (2020). AI-driven media evolution: exploring automated journalism’s impact on industry’s future. Transforming Management Using Artificial Intelligence ….
Hafied, H., Irwanto, I., Surjatmodjo, D., & Latuheru, R. (2025). AI-Driven Media Evolution: Exploring Automated Journalism’s Impact on Industry’s Future. Jurnal Kajian Jurnalisme, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v8i2.53801
Juharsi, A. T. (2018). Jurnalis Perempuan Dalam Industri Media Online Di Indonesia.(Studi Kualitatif Deskriptif Pada Jurnalis Perempuan Di Kompas. Com, Detik. Com, Okezone. Com Dan Liputan6. Com). Universitas Brawijaya.
Konow-Lund, M., & Høiby, M. (2023). Female investigative journalists: overcoming threats, intimidation, and violence with gendered strategies. Journalism Practice, 17(8). https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.2008810
Lahagu, A. D. (2012). Problem perempuan jurnalis dalam praktik jurnalisme berperspektif gender (Studi kualitatif tentang pengalaman subjektif perempuan jurnalis dalam praktik membangun jurnalisme berperspektif genderm di surat kabar kedaulatan rakyat). UAJY.
Madanchian, M., & Taherdoost, H. (2025). The impact of artificial intelligence on research efficiency. In Results in Engineering (Vol. 26). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104743
Madison, D. S. (2022). Critical ethnography: method, ethics, and performance. In Critical Ethnography: Method, Ethics, and Performance. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071878965
Martínez-Navarro, G. (2025). Artificial Intelligence and Journalism: exploring journalists’ perspectives. Doxa Comunicacion, 2025-January-June(40). https://doi.org/10.31921/doxacom.n40a2717
Meidina, V. S., Palupi, M. F. T., & Sadono, T. P. (2024). Phenomenological study on the identity and perspective of women journalists in the city of surabaya in interpreting the profession. Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(01), 69–77.
Mulyani, H. S., Basith, A. A., Syafri, B. S., & Danu, R. (2025). AI integration in broadcast production management at radio xchannel. Jurnal Kajian Jurnalisme, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v9i1.63631
Nelson, A. (2025). The symbolic annihilation of black working-class women in the black family. Freedom: A Journal of Research in Africana Studies. https://doi.org/10.65373/phwf1084
Noble, S. U. (2018). Critical surveillance literacy in social media: Interrogating black death and dying online. Black Camera, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.2979/blackcamera.9.2.10
O’Brien, M. (2025). The politics of reproduction. In The Politics of Reproduction. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003564591
Papaya, P., Hamidi, H., Nagari, J. C., Nugroho, R. S., Dzaky, N. E., Effendy, F. W., Pujiastuti, D., & Ibnu Wanih, S. T. (2024). Transforming consumer behavior in the digital era: challenges and opportunities for the media industry. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies; Vol 45, No 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v45.2.6322
Pozo, L. M. (2020). Embodying ethnographies from feminist perspectives. Revista Estudos Feministas, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9584-2020V28N358097
Prasojo, B. N. M. (2015). Konstruksi sosial masyarakat terhadap alam gunung merapi: studi kualitatif tentang kearifan lokal yang berkembang di desa tlogolele kecamatan selo kabupaten boyolali. Jurnal Analisa Sosiologi, 4(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.20961/jas.v4i2.17434
Rohim, S., Sukardi, E., & Yulinda, L. (2023). Etnography and multicultural dynamics communication of jakarta community. WACANA: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Komunikasi. https://doi.org/10.32509/wacana.v22i2.3383
Sartori, L., & Bocca, G. (2023). Minding the gap(s): public perceptions of AI and socio-technical imaginaries. AI and Society, 38(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-022-01422-1
Schneider, T. (2023). Digitalization and artificial intelligence. Springer Books.
Simon, F. M. (2024). Escape me if you can: how ai reshapes news organisations’ dependency on platform companies. Digital Journalism, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2023.2287464
Susilawaty, F. T., Jaya, A., Sudirman, F. A., & Halika, L. O. H. (2023). Exploring the impact of Instagram like visibility on self-confidence. Jurnal Kajian Komunikasi, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.24198/jkk.v11i2.47268
Syerlina, Amar, M. I., Adawiah, R., & Musi, S. (2024). Transformasi media analog ke media digital sebagai upaya adaptasi (analisis konvergensi media). Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin Terpadu, 8(7).
Thurman, N., Dörr, K., & Kunert, J. (2017). When reporters get hands-on with robo-writing. Digital Journalism, 5(10). https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2017.1289819
Thussu, D. K. (2007). News as entertainment: The rise of global infotainment. In News as Entertainment: The Rise of Global Infotainment. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446220337
Tripalupi, M. F., Kusnadi, H. F. N., & Irawan, R. E. (2024). Examining women journalists in Surabaya: a critical ethnographic media portrait study. Jurnal Studi Komunikasi, 8(2), 373–380.
van Doorn, N., & van Zoonen, L. (2008). Theorizing gender and the internet: Past, present, and future. In Routledge Handbook of Internet Politics. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203962541-22
van Zoonen, L. (1994). Feminist Media Studies. Sage Publications (CA). https://books.google.co.id/books?id=SnT2tnhJ7u0C
van Zoonen, L. (2013). From identity to identification: Fixating the fragmented self. Media, Culture and Society, 35(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443712464557
Wajcman, J., & Young, E. (2023). Feminism Confronts AI. In Feminist AI. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192889898.003.0004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24198/jkj.v10i1.70637
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Kajian Jurnalisme Indexed by:
Kajian Jurnalisme
Program Studi Jurnalistik, Fakultas Ilmu Komunikasi, Universitas Padjadjaran
Gedung 3 Lantai 2, Jalan Ir. Soekarno Km. 21, Jatinangor, Kabupaten Sumedang, Jawa Barat 45363, Indonesia
Phone: (022) 7796954
Fax: (022) 7794122
Email: [email protected]
Kajian Jurnalisme Supervised by:
