"Colors in Data Journalism and Their Semantic Usage in Arab and Foreign Websites"

The study aimed to shed light on the role of colors as a semantic element that inherently conveys the content of media messages and how they can be used as an effective semantic tool to enhance understanding of media messages. This was achieved through a semiotic analysis of these colors in infographics and data visualizations on Arab websites, represented by the "Al-Masry Al-Youm" website, and Foriegn websites, represented by "The Guardian."

The researcher employed the survey method, conducting the study on all infographics and data visualizations on the two websites during the period from August 1, 2023, to October 1, 2023. The study concluded that local issues were at the forefront of the topics covered by data journalism on Al-Masry Al-Youm, while issues related to Australia dominated the interests of The Guardian. The topics covered by both websites were diverse; Al-Masry Al-Youm focused on economic, health, and political issues, while The Guardian emphasized climate and sports topics.

The color semantics in data journalism on both websites aligned with the context and accompanying journalistic content. Red was used to signify (heat, danger, warning), blue to denote (coolness, stability, calm), and gray to indicate (neutrality).

The Guardian stood out from Al-Masry Al-Youm by using color gradients, which signified variations in results, presenting these differences visually in a simple and accessible manner. Additionally, The Guardian uniquely utilized complementary colors on the color wheel, creating strong visual contrast that made the represented elements clear and attention-grabbing.