Visualization acceptance among the data journalists in the United Arab Emirates: A structural equation modeling-based study

New trends and practices in journalism and news-making contribute to data journalism’s increasing adoption and use. This study highlights and examines data journalism as a significant practice among journalists in the United Arab Emirates. Theoretically supported by social cognitive theory, data from 309 journals is analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results show a strong preference among Emirati journalists for using data journalism professionally. These journalists encode data using various visualization approaches to improve data availability and transparency for readers. Also, they prioritize assuring easy and understandable data decoding among audiences, potentially promoting critical thinking. Thus, the study concludes that Emirati journalists are assertive about adopting and using data journalism approaches to enhance their skills and provide transparent data to readers. Also, data journalism’s preference reflects technology’s integration into traditional journalism, transforming communication into a two-way process. Finally, the research discusses the study implications, limitations, and recommendations accordingly.