Looking for Constructive Journalism Principles in Arab Journalism Codes of Ethics: A Study on UAE, KSA, and Qatar

Constructive journalism is a significant paradigm shift within the field of journalism that endeavors to depart from the conventional negative and problem-centric approach toward a solution-oriented and socially engaged model. This transformative approach is underpinned by ethical considerations and principles of social responsibility. The categorical identification of six fundamental principles is instrumental in defining and characterizing the practice of constructive journalism. These principles encompass: solutions orientation, future orientation, inclusiveness and diversity, empowerment of people, news explanation and contextualization, and public co-creation and engagement (Hermans & Gyldensted, Journalism, 2018). In light of these six principles, our research study has undertaken a deontological content analysis of the journalistic codes adopted in three Arab Gulf countries (the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar). The objective of this analysis is to evaluate the extent to which the content of these codes aligns with each of the six constructive journalism principles. By conducting this evaluation, we aim to gain insight into the feasibility and potentiality of implementing the approach of constructive journalism within the region.