Saudi Digital Media Ethics and the Effectiveness of National Strategic Communication: An Analytical Study of Digital Content Related to Saudi Vision 2030

Abstract

This study investigates the level of compliance with professional and ethical standards in Saudi digital media content related to Saudi Vision 2030 and examines its alignment with national strategic communication requirements. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach utilizing quantitative content analysis, the study analyzed a proportionate stratified sample of 350 media items—comprising reports from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and the Ministry of Media—published between January 1 and December 31, 2025. The findings reveal a high overall level of compliance with professional and ethical standards (overall mean of 1.60), with accuracy, verification, and misinformation avoidance scoring highest. Similarly, the content demonstrated a strong alignment with national strategic communication requirements (overall mean of 1.68), particularly regarding alignment with national goals and the prominent highlighting of Vision 2030 strategies. Furthermore, statistical analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between professional/ethical compliance and strategic communication effectiveness ($r = 0.72, p < 0.001$). Statistically significant differences were also identified in ethical compliance based on media platform type and content source, favoring official web portals over social media platforms and the Saudi Press Agency over the Ministry of Media. The study concludes that advancing Saudi digital media requires integrating ethical rigor with interactive communication strategies to reinforce transparency, evidence-based reporting, and stakeholder trust.