Infographics in the United Arab Emirates newspapers

Abstract

In recent years, the number of infographics in the United Arab Emirates1 (UAE) newspapers has generally increased. The newspapers publish different types of infographics, but not on a regular basis. This study examined 180 issues of six UAE newspapers, conducted a survey with 19 graphic journalists and interviewed their chief editors to explore the current uses of infographics, the factors affecting its use and graphic journalists' perceptions of infographics. The study shows that the UAE newspapers still lag behind in the use of infographics and do not utilize all types of infographics. They mainly outsource services for infographics packages or illustration-based graphics. They do not have separate or specialized departments for infographics.2 They rarely combine infographics with news stories, especially on the front pages. Type-based graphics are more frequently used than charts and illustration-based graphics. The study shows a significant difference between the UAE English and Arabic newspapers in the type of infographics used and in its use on the front page. The graphic journalists see infographics as supplementary to the text and not an essential part of the newspaper's content.