Mass Communication Doctoral Students

Hafiz Zain Itrat is a Digital News Media Practitioner, PhD Mass Communication Candidate and Teaching Assistant at School of Media Art and Studies, Ohio University. He earned his M. Phil. Communication Studies degree from University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Mr. Itrat also holds under his belt a decade of professional experience in the digital media news industry by working for Pakistan’s leading digital political news platform as a News Editor and Content Head.

His academic interests lie in exploring the financial dynamics and political economy of news media, the effects of Artificial Intelligence driven Digital Media Algorithms on political decision making, especially electoral process, and its contribution to confirmation bias, echo chambers and increased political polarization in society.

Mr. Itrat has regularly been presenting his research at various international media and communication conferences. Passionate about serving academy, Mr. Itrat aims to continue his contribution to the field of digital media and communication on a global level.

A filmmaker, researcher, lecturer and a Media Arts PhD candidate at Ohio University (OU). Her philosophy about media arts is that it is our gateway to study the human communication through film and interactive media. It is applying motion image, light, sound and color creatively to our own perspective to create films and expressing ideas based on scientific researches.

Omnya has directed and produced many short movies that are awarded in many international film festivals. Her movies always revolve around human issues. She has lectured for 5 years on film, media, and integrated marketing communications. She has 10+ years of practical experience with production houses and advertising agencies. Her research interests are in sociocultural issues and how media affects societies. She is also a mother who is enjoying raising a beautiful son.

Her favorite quote is:

“Media and film provide an opportunity to marry the power of ideas with the power of images.”

Nadiah Abidin is an Indonesian Ph.D. student in Mass Communication whose interdisciplinary work examines AI, education, heritage, and community empowerment. With extensive previous experience as an educator, translator, trainer, anchor, and writer, her book, Emma, is available in 27 languages. 

Nadiah co-founded the award-winning social initiative Cahaya Anak Negeri and currently serves as President of Ohio University’s Fulbright Scholar Association, Commissioner for International Student Affairs of the Graduate Student Senate, Cultural Consultant for the Ohio Valley International Council, Supervisor of the Worldwide and America-Europe Region Overseas Indonesian Students’ Association Alliances, and a member of the University International Council. Her accolades include the Engage Award, Outstanding Commissioner Award, Women Leaders On- and Off-the-Court Award, Community Development Award, Outstanding Service Award, and one of the 26 Best E-Teacher Scholars. 

In 2026, she is a three-time 3C Photo Contest winner, recipient of the ICOME Young Scholar Award, AMEROP Best AI Paper and Three-Minute Thesis awards, Grad Con Research Talk second prize, and the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact creative project grant. Alongside the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, she co-authors an AI-in-cinema book for Routledge.

Prakash Acharya is a doctoral candidate at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. His research interests include how news media and audiences fact-check public affairs news and related content in the age of social media and AI. He explores how they assess seemingly authentic text, data, photos, audio, and video, and how these materials affect the circulation of public affairs news and audience engagement in public affairs. 

Prakash worked as a mainstream journalist for 17 years (2000- 2018) in Nepal. He covered public affairs, including the country’s internal conflict, natural disasters, Parliament, the courts, and the offices of the Prime Minister and President. Through hundreds of impactful stories on policy, politics, and public life, he has developed a deep understanding of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and lives at the grassroots.  

As a researcher, Prakash has published two articles: 1. "Viral News About Vulnerable People: Issues in Nepal’s YouTube-Based Alternative Media,” in the journal Electronic News; 2.  "Opening and Closing of Discourse Through Indexing and Charting: Enhancing Pentadic Maps of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Speech to the U.N. General Assembly and Subsequent Media Coverage," in Southern Communication Journal. He has published one book review, "Book Review: From Legacy Media to Going Viral: Generational Media Use and Citizen Engagement by Robert H. Wicks, Shauna A. Morimoto, and Jan LeBlanc Wicks,” in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. As a reviewer, he has 13 Web of Science-verified reviews. He has presented his 14 research papers at different conferences, including AEJMC, NAC, and IAFOR. He was involved in many other research projects, including Public Records Audit 2026 in Ohio.

As an instructor, Prakash has taught a wide range of journalism and mass communication courses. He has taught J4790/5790 Data Journalism; J4410/5410 Narrative Journalism; J3300 Editing; J3140 Fundamentals of Online Journalism; and J2311 Multiplatform Reporting and Writing at Ohio University from 2023 to the present. He taught Political Communication; Media and Democratic Process; Advanced Reporting; Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication; Law, Ethics and Management of Mass Media; Media Research; and Advertising & Public Relations and Media Issues when serving at Tribhuvan University from 2005 to 2022. 

Prakash has received five distinguished awards from Ohio University: Award for Outstanding Researcher (2026), the Learn Pillar Award (2025), the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (2025), the Outstanding Researcher Award (2024), and the Robert L. and Teri W. Gerbig Graduate Scholarship (2022).

Some of Prakash’s work is available on his website: prakashacharya.me.  

Mohammed Alfares is a motivated Mass Communication student and recent graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned a Master of Science in Mass Communication from the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication. His academic interests lie at the intersection of public relations, advertising, health communication, and gender studies. His graduate studies at Kansas State provided him with the opportunity to further explore these interests and examine the ways in which media and communication shape individual identities and broader social norms.

His graduate research culminated in a thesis titled Social Media Influence on Self-Image and Motivation for Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Kuwait reflecting his interest in the intersection of digital media, identity, health, and societal expectations. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, with a minor in Political Science, from Kuwait University.

Mohammed has also been actively engaged in academic and professional forums. He was one of three colleagues who presented research on healthcare delivery to immigrant communities at the National Communication Association (NCA) conference and has participated in academic forums, including the Mid-American Alliance for African Studies (MAAS). At Kansas State University, he served as Marketing Coordinator and Treasurer for the Advertising Club, where he developed practical experience in budgeting, campaign coordination, and social media management.

Looking ahead, Mohammed plans to pursue a PhD in Mass Communication at Ohio University, where he hopes to deepen his research expertise and contribute to scholarship in his areas of interest. In the long term, he hopes to return to Kuwait and combine an academic career in teaching and research with community-oriented work through non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Asem A. Alomari is a Ph.D. in Mass Communication at the School of Media Arts and Studies, Scripps College of Journalism and Communication, Ohio University. Recently, Alomari defended his dissertation titled "Political Talk TV in Middle East Context: Understanding Power of Al-Jazeera’s "Opposite Direction".

Currently, Alomari serves as an adjunct faculty at the State University of New York at New Paltz / Communication Studies Department.

Alomari received a Master of Science in Mass Communication from Arkansas State University in 2019. During his master’s, Alomari served as a graduate and teacher assistant, where he received the Graduate Assistant Achievement Award in 2019. Prior to this, he completed his bachelor’s degree in mass communication, with a concentration in radio and television, at Yarmouk University in 2012. Outside of academia, Alomari has also excelled in his field during his experience in radio and television. His work experience includes serving as a director and commentator for several documentary films in Jordan.

Alomari is passionate about conducting research and teaching. His research interest includes the effects of mass media and public opinion, theories of mass communication, and media representation and stereotypes. Alomari presented his research, "An Examination of Television as a News Source in the Social Media Age", at the Sixty-First Annual Conference of the Western Social Science Association, San Diego, CA. Also, he presented a research project titled "A Middle Eastern Perspective of Agenda Setting: Agenda Setting in the Third Level" at the Global Fusion Conference- UT Austin Department of Radio-Television-Film, Austin, TX.

Education

Master of Arts in Professional Communication Studies, Purdue University

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism), Ghana Institute of Journalism (UniMAC)

Ebenezer Fayah Amartey is a PhD student in Mass Communication and Journalism at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He holds a Master’s degree in Professional Communication Studies from Purdue University Fort Wayne and has professional experience in journalism, human rights advocacy, and media production.

Before beginning his graduate studies in the US, he worked in Ghana as a journalist for many media organizations, including Ghana Broadcasting, and as a human rights advocate for more than five years with the POS Foundation, where he contributed to initiatives focused on prisoners’ rights, women’s empowerment, youth development, and social justice. These experiences shaped his interest in using communication and journalism to amplify marginalized voices and promote social change.

His research interests include human rights communication, journalism and social change, communication and development, and advocacy, with a particular focus on prisoner-rights advocacy and communication strategies in Ghana. He is also interested in digital media, storytelling, and journalism’s role in shaping public understanding of human rights and historical memory.

He has expanded my experience in public history and digital storytelling through his work with the Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, where he contributed to digital communication and website development, and as a podcast producer for the Indiana Jewish Historical Society.

Conference Presentations

National Communication Association

• Communicating to Elevate Human Rights: Social Media and Human Rights Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights in Ghana
• Communication as Movement: Social Media, Human Rights, and LGBTQIA+ Empowerment - A Case Study of Q Center at Purdue Fort Wayne
• Moving Money, Managing Meaning: Interpersonal Communication and the Negotiation of Black Tax Among African International Students

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC

• Digital Resistance and Visibility: Examining Social Media as a Tool for LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy in Ghana”
• Panel Discussion: The Litigation Tsunami: AI Detection Lawsuits, Newsroom Dismissals, and Defending Authorship in Journalism Education

PhD program in Mass Communication: Journalism, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University (expected graduation: May 2028). My areas of research interest are Counternarratives in news and infotainment on social media. It includes the use of Artificial Intelligence in creating counternarratives, Comment section as counternarratives and the impact of counternarratives on social movements in democracies. Currently, I serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and lab instructor for JOUR 2311: Multiplatform Reporting and Writing. In this role I teach and guide students in reporting and editing assignments. It includes students identifying and talking to sources, conducting interviews, writing and editing news briefs, and reporting on community issues.

In addition, I hold a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University (May 2025) and over a decade of teaching, administrative, and professional media experience. I was an Instructor of Record for COMS 100: The Fundamentals of Oral Communication at Northern Illinois University. In this role, I independently taught undergraduate courses, mentored students, designed instructional materials, and assessed student performance. Additionally, as a Lab Coach for the COMS 100 Skills Lab, I worked closely with students to develop speech outlines, strengthen delivery techniques, and build confidence in public speaking. These experiences have allowed me to cultivate a student-centered pedagogy that emphasizes critical thinking, clarity of expression, and engagement with diverse perspectives.

Prior to my graduate studies in the United States, I served as a Lecturer in Mass Communication at Loyola Academy in India, where I taught courses in reporting, Indian media history, and current affairs. I also played an active role in curriculum development, revamping the bachelor’s syllabus and consulting on program design for other institutions. My commitment to co-curricular engagement led me to find both the Loyola Orators Club and the College Film Club, initiatives that fostered intellectual dialogue, media literacy, and public speaking skills among students. 

Before transitioning fully into academia, I worked as a reporter and a special correspondent for leading English-language publications in India. Covering political, social, and community issues sharpened my analytical perspective on media narratives, public discourse, and the role of journalism in democratic societies. These experiences continue to shape my scholarly interests, particularly in examining media power, ideological framing, and transnational communication dynamics.

In addition to teaching and research, I have demonstrated a strong record of service. I served as Secretary of the Graduate Student Advisory Council in the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University. Previously, I have held leadership roles in academic and educational organizations, contributing to governance, mentorship, and institutional development.

Eirene N. Binabiba is a Ph.D. Candidate in Mass Communication in the Department of Media Arts and Studies. Eirene earned her Bachelors in Fine Arts at the University of Ghana where she majored in Theatre for Development and her master’s in International Development at Ohio University with a concentration on gender and development.

Eirene is currently working on her dissertation which is centered on understanding how digital humanitarianism and the use of social media/digital platforms influence and shape humanitarian response efforts during crises. Eirene's scholarly interests revolve around the intersections of digital media, humanitarianism, and vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on how digital platforms shape and influence global humanitarian efforts. Looking ahead, she is interested in further exploring digital media cultures, how they influence social activism and global humanitarianism, and the ways in which they shape public perception and policy.

Beyond academia, Eirene is the founder of the ENB Foundation, a non-profit organization in Ghana committed to addressing the challenges faced by women and children while fostering development in underserved areas. With a network of volunteers across the country, the foundation runs targeted initiatives designed to empower, educate, and uplift individuals, improving their quality of life. Through skill training workshops, mentorship programs, and sustainable development projects, the ENB Foundation equips individuals with the tools to create brighter futures and promotes long-term growth in marginalized communities.

In addition to her work with the ENB Foundation, Eirene serves as a communications consultant, helping organizations craft tailored digital messaging through storytelling and strategic communication. Her expertise helps position brands as leaders in their fields while amplifying the work of non-profits, ensuring their missions are effectively communicated and their impact is fully recognized.

Nathan Blackburn is a third-year doctoral student at the Scripps College of Communication. He also currently serves as the Graduate College’s Director of Communications and Professional Development. In this role, Blackburn manages all Graduate College webpages, student email newsletter communications, coordinates events, and manages the Doctoral Milestone Tracking System, among other things. He is also the direct supervisor of the Graduate College Graduate Assistant and the BELONGS Fellows. Blackburn has served in this role since May 2023.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Piedmont University in 2020 and his Master of Science in Journalism from Ohio University in 2023. His research area focuses on queer representation in mass media, particularly in the Appalachian region, as well as minority representation in media and the evolution of writing as a communication tool.

Eric Boll is a Ph.D. student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism specializing in science communication and science news. A three-time bobcat, Eric got both his B.S.J and M.S.J from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Eric has also obtained certificates in political communications and war and peace studies

Professionally, Eric has covered several beats including general news, basketball, track and field, cross country, agriculture, the environment and more. He currently works for the Athens County Independent as an environment and science reporter.

Research Interests
Science Communication
Paleontology
Public Relations
Environment
News
Presentations and Awards
American Journalism Historian Association, Memphis, 2022
Eric Boll, Ohio University, "The Underreporting of the 2007 Chinese Anti-Satellite Missile Test by Major American Newspapers"

American Journalism Historian Association, Columbus, 2023
Eric Boll, Ohio University, "Depictions of Paleontology in Two Major American Newspapers in the 1990s"

Mary-Magdalene (M.M.) Ngum Chumbow is a native Cameroonian who lived and studied in Kenya for more than a decade. She received a B.A in Communications with a major in Electronic Media and Journalism, from Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya, while also working as a radio presenter and producer at the school's radio station. She also worked with communication firms and digital marketing agencies in the country, all through her final years in college.  

She holds a Masters degree in International Communication & Development Studies from Ohio University, as well as a certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.  

M.M. is currently a PhD candidate and Instructor of Record in the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University, as well as the Marketing and Public Relations Director of the International Student Union.

During her time at Ohio University, she has also acted as the Graduate Student Senate Representative for the Ohio University Center for International Studies (2017-2018), Secretary-General to the Ohio University African Students Association (2018-2019), as well as a Graduate Student Adviser at the Office for MultiCultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR).  

M.M’s research interests include gender and sexuality practices, particularly within African communities, and the roles that the media plays in promoting social change within said communities. She has particularly conducted studies on SGBV practices such as Breast Ironing and Female Genital Cutting (FGC), as well as gender stereotypes as seen and enabled by the media in African countries and among refugee communities.  

Raja Das alias Raj is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. His research intersects media, society, law, and education, with a focus on journalism as the future institution of preserving democracy in this fast-changing media world.

His dissertation, Navigating Hate Speech Education in U.S. Journalism Programs: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Media Law Pedagogy, examines how journalism pedagogy engages with hate speech law and democratic discourse in the classroom. This work largely addresses the professional development of future journalists, including their understanding of hate speech and how they respond to it within the First Amendment’s protections. His research is accepted for presentation at conferences hosted by the American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA), Broadcast Education Association (BEA), World Journalism Education Congress (WJEC), Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), and South Asia Communication Association (SACA).

Over the past few years at Ohio University, Raj contributed to undergraduate teaching as Instructor of Record. He designed and taught courses including News and Information Literacy, Fundamentals of Online Journalism, and Radio and Television Reporting and Writing. In his fourth year, he is serving as an Adjunct Instructor, teaching Gender, Race and Class in Journalism and Mass Media, with a focus on how issues of gender, race, and class shape media practices and representations. His scholarship is driven by both research and teaching that focus on developing an inclusive journalism pedagogy to prepare journalists as global citizens. He has also mentored graduate student instructors at Ohio University in the Graduate Student Professional Seminar with the Patton College of Education as one of the selected fellows of the Graduate College's BELONGS Fellowship. 

Before pursuing a PhD, he worked as a journalist with The Telegraph in India, covering education, politics, and human-interest stories. He also served as Program Officer at a non-profit Media Research Organization, coordinating projects on media literacy, visual archives, digital safety, and social and behavioral communication awareness in collaboration with organizations such as UNICEF, UCLA, Commonwealth Secretariat, and India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Assam Government’s National Health Mission.

His research has appeared in Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, Economic and Political Weekly, Global Media Journal, and in publications supported by UCLA’s MEAP grant and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Vanessa Obenewaa Antwi Doe is a proud second-generation Bobcat, following in the footsteps of her father, who also earned graduate and postgraduate degrees from Ohio University. Now she's writing her own chapter as a PhD student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, with an interest in researching media ethics in Ghana, focusing on advocacy journalism, marginalized communities, and the role media plays in accountability and public perception.

Vanessa holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Central University in Ghana, where she graduated with first-class honors and was named Best Communication Student in 2019. She earned her M.A. in Communication and Development from Ohio University in 2022, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and receiving the Outstanding Student award. Her graduate research, on the implications of Ghana's fast-fashion second-hand market for local seamstresses' businesses, has been recognized with multiple honors at Ohio University's Research Expo, including First Place awards in Diversity and Inclusion (2021), Women's Center Award (2021), and Sustainability (2022).

Outside her scholarship, Vanessa brings a wide-ranging professional background to her research, having worked in higher education, nonprofit advocacy, employee engagement, and entrepreneurship, alongside experience with organizations including Kosmos Energy Ghana, Child Rights International, and Humanity Health International.

Through her research and leadership, Vanessa remains committed to advancing ethical communication and amplifying underrepresented voices in journalism and media.

Lina Elshrief, originally from Egypt, is a PhD student, an instructor, and a Scripps Howard Teaching Fellow at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. She also serves as the Department Representative for the Scripps School of Journalism in the Graduate Student Senate at Ohio University. 

She has more than 13 years of experience as a journalist, translator, and consultant, working with different Egyptian and Middle Eastern news websites and international organizations, including the United Nations.

Lina is a Fulbright alumna who holds a Master of Arts in Multimedia Journalism from Arkansas Tech University. Her master’s graduation capstone, “The Voiceless,” is a digital platform that focuses on the stories of Syrian refugees in the U.S., emphasizing their struggles and contributions.

She also earned a Bachelor of Mass Communication, majoring in Journalism, from Cairo University. Additionally, she holds diplomas in Media & Literary Translation, and Legal & UN Translation from The American University in Cairo.

Her work spans multiple disciplines, including creating and editing news, conducting interviews, and producing videos. Lina believes that translation creates peace among people, and she translated numerous articles and reports from English into Arabic and vice versa, working as the Arabic translator for IJNET, a project of the International Center for Journalists, the Egyptian Shorouknews, the Emirates Al-Ain, the Egyptian Mada Masr, and more. She is also a member of the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists.

Beyond journalism, Lina has worked with international organizations, such as a multimedia consultant for the International Rescue Committee, a social media consultant at the headquarters of the United Nations Population Fund in New York, a communication assistant with the regional office of the United Nations World Food Programme in Egypt, and a Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse consultant with United Nations International Organization for Migration in Egypt.

Her research interests cover topics related to migration and refugees in media, ethics and disinformation related to covering those minorities. She is a teaching assistant for JOUR 2311 Introduction to Multiplatform Reporting and Writing class, as well as an instructor for the JOUR 3330 Editing class and the UC 1900 Learning Community Seminar in Journalism. Before that, she was a teaching assistant for the JOUR 1010 Future of Media class in Fall 2024.

In 2026, Lina received the Outstanding Performance as a Teaching Assistant award from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, alongside the Discovery Pillar Award from the Scripps College of Communication. She was named the Graduate College’s Outstanding GradImpact Student in Service, and she was honored as the 2025 Learning Community Instructor of the Year.

One fun fact about Lina is she likes chocolates, and her main goal is to try all kinds of chocolates in the world while traveling and seeing what is happening on this Earth.

Matthew Fitzgerald is a Ph.D. student and Instructor of Record in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication. His research examines how religious leaders and institutions can use digital media to rebuild organizational trust in the United States. His scholarship explores strategic communication, institutional credibility, and digital media to demystify how trust can be built and maintained.

Alongside his research, Matthew brings extensive executive experience running marketing and creative departments. During his time in the industry, he worked for Bill Gates’ Influencer Marketing agency, doubled the online revenue of a luxury jewelry company, and developed content strategy for a global religious organization. As an educator, he bridges industry practice with theoretical insight, mentoring students to enter the workforce with applied strategic skills and confidence in themselves.

Education:

• Ph.D., Mass Communication (Journalism), Ohio University.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Arizona.
• Bachelor of Arts, Communications (Advertising Emphasis), Brigham Young University.

Dissertation:

 "Navigating the Decline of Religious Trust in America: Using the ABI Model to Predict Digital Engagement for Faith Leaders”

Chair: Dr. Parul Jain

Areas of Expertise: 

Organizational Trust, PR & Advertising Strategy, Business Marketing, Branding

Research Interests:

Organizational Trust, Religious Media, AI Governance, Strategic Communication

Courses Taught:

JOUR 4530: Strategic Social Media

Presentations and Awards:

Matthew is the recipient of the 1st Place Praiseworthy Award from the LDS Media & Publishing Association (Fall 2024) for his work "How To Gather Israel online." He recently presented "How To Get Ideas Out of Your Drafts and Into Reality" at the Miami Ad School in February 2026.

Leela Prasad Gullapalli is a Ph.D. student in Mass Communication (Journalism track) at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University. He is a data journalist turned analyst who has spent more than a decade helping newsrooms use data to understand their audiences and tell better stories. His research interests include audience analytics, local news, community impact, news engagement, and Artificial Intelligence. 

Before joining the doctoral program, Leela worked as a Data Management Specialist at Charlottesville Tomorrow, where he built the newsroom's first editorial impact dashboard and a relational database for its Virginia Voter Guide. Earlier, he was a Newsroom Analytics Specialist at Radio Free Asia and a Data Analyst at News Revenue Hub. He spent eight years at The Indian Express in Delhi, rising from Deputy Copy Editor to Senior Assistant Editor.

Leela holds an M.S. in Information Systems (Data Science) from Pace University, an M.A. in Media and Journalism from Newcastle University, and a B.Tech. in Computer Science Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

Ibrahim bin Harun is a doctoral student, instructor, and Scripps Howard Teaching Fellow at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University. He is an instructor for the JOUR 3140 Fundamentals of Online Journalism class and has previously served as a teaching assistant for the JOUR 2311 Introduction to Multiplatform Reporting and Writing class and JOUR 1010 Future of Media class.

Ibrahim earned both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Before enrolling in the PhD program at OU, he was an Assistant Professor at Jagannath University in Bangladesh (on study leave). In addition to his academic roles, Ibrahim brings 24 years of professional experience in the media industry, where he has worked in reporting and editing for both print and electronic media. He has also held leadership positions on the international affairs desk at two prominent television channels in Bangladesh.

His research investigates the journalism ecosystem in Bangladesh, particularly issues related to press freedom, political parallelism, media capture, and the role of journalist associations. Since starting the PhD program, Ibrahim has published a peer-reviewed article in the journal Journalism and a book chapter with Springer.

In 2026, Ibrahim received the Robert L. & Teri W. Gerbig Graduate Scholarship from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the Work Pillar Award from the Scripps College of Communication.

Ibrahim is a proud father of three wonderful children and a devoted husband.

Nikhil Reddy is a Ph.D. Candidate and Instructor of Record in the School of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication. His research examines the intersections of digital platforms, algorithms, labor, and inequality, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies shape the experiences and opportunities of workers and communities in the Global South. His work draws on critical and interdisciplinary approaches to study platform labor, digital cultures, content creation, and the social consequences of algorithmic systems.

Alongside his research, Nikhil is committed to inclusive and student-centered teaching. He is currently completing his dissertation and continues to develop research and teaching that connect critical media scholarship with questions of labor, technology, and social justice.

Areas of Expertise:

Digital Media & Communication, Platform Studies, Critical Media Studies, Digital Labor

Research Interests:

Gig Work & Platform Labor, Algorithms & AI, Digital Inequality, Media & Technology in the Global South

Courses Taught:

MDIA 2010: Media Analysis and Criticism
MDIA 4011: Media and the Digital Divide

Teaching Interests:

Digital Media & Communication, Social Media & Digital Cultures, Platform Labor & Gig Work, Media & Technology in Society

Presentations and Awards:

Nikhil has presented his research at major international conferences, including the International Communication Association (ICA), the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), and the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR).

Eva Liu is a PhD student in Mass Communication (Media Studies Track) at Ohio University. She holds an M.A. in Gender Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. As a feminist media researcher specializing in Chinese feminisms, popular cultures and fandom, Eva has published her work in peer-reviewed journals and presented her work at international academic conferences. She is the recipient of the John Cady Graduate Fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Publications

Han, L. & Liu, Y. (2024). When digital feminisms collide with nationalism: Theorizing “pink feminism” on Chinese social media. Women's Studies International Forum, 105, 102941. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102941

Liu, Y. (2024). Neoliberal feminism with Chinese characteristics: Alternative self-representations of female PhDs on RED. Continuum, 37(6), 728-740. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2024.2316734.

Liu, Y. (2024). When feminists are misidentified as traitors: Nationalism, disinformation, and anti-feminism in Chinese cyberspace. Feminist Media Studies, 24(1), 170–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2023.2284101

Han, L. & Liu, Y. (2023). #MeToo Activism without the #MeToo Hashtag: Online Debates over Entertainment Celebrities' Sexual Scandals in China. Feminist Media Studies, 24(4), 657-674. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2023.2219857

Selected Presentations

Liu, Y. (2024 November). “Feminist Theory of Our Own: Localized Production of Feminist Knowledge, Discourse and Identities in Digital China.” Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the National Women’s Studies Association, Detroit, MI. 14-17 November 2024.

Liu, Y. (2024 June). "Fictosexuality as a Feminist Resistance: Queering Digital Intimacies in Otome Games". Paper presented at the “Global Digital Intimacies” conference, the University of Amsterdam. 27-28 June 2024.

Liu, Y. (2023 June). "Playing With The Romance (un)critically: Love Fantasy, Feminism and Otome Gamers In China." Paper presented at Console-ing Passions 2023, the University of Calgary. 22-24 June 2023.

Liu, Y. (2023 March). “'Women Can(not) Have it All in Academia': Neoliberal Feminism and Female PhD Digital Influencers in China." Paper presented at the Conference “After Nora Walks Out”: The Struggles and the Future of Chinese Feminism, the New School for Social Research. 4 March 2023.

Liu, Y. (2022 October). "Let’s Queer the Theatres: Performing Industries and Musical Fandom after Covid-19." Paper Presented at the Fan Studies Network - North America 2022. 13-16 October 2022.

Junaid Ali Majaz is a PhD student in the School of Media Arts and Studies with research interests in virtual learning experiences. His work focuses on investigating how immersive and interactive platforms can enhance learning experiences for students all over the world. Junaid holds an undergraduate degree in media production and an MFA degree in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, he also served as the graduate assistant at the Department of Communications.

During his master's work, Junaid developed an interest in virtual reality and recognized the potential of the medium. His master’s thesis explored the idea of how design can help international students learn about U.S college campuses.

Junaid is an avid movie buff and enjoys watching quality content. He also enjoys being close to nature and prefers to travel whenever he can manage enough time.

Viktoria is a PhD candidate, who was born in Bulgaria but immigrated to South Africa at an early age and grew up there. Over the past two years Viktoria has been focused on the power of social media for social change and is shaping her research towards understanding the donation process individuals embark on through social media. She has spent the last four summers working as a Marketing and Social Media Strategist for Social Enterprise Ecosystems and came to Ohio University with a versatile professional background in media production, content development, project management, and event coordination. At OU she has received her MA in Communication and Development and MA in Public Administration. Her BA degree is in Journalism from Rhodes University in South Africa. Currently she is a Graduate Instructor In the Social Media Certificate Program and is overseeing the Social Media Storytelling Lab. Viktoria believes in maintaining a balanced life and enjoys staying active, meditating, dancing, gardening, relaxing with her cats, participating in university activities, and working hard on academics.  

Mr. Kenyi Betuel Marle is a Ph.D student in the Media Arts and Communication Studies in Ohio University. He holds a master’s degree in Communication and Development studies (CommDev). The CommDev is a program that cultivates understanding and critical assessment of the role communication tools and how to adapt to new technologies and innovative practices in society. Kenyi’s capstone project in this program examined how inclusive radio programming can change the negative attitude of society towards girl child education in South Sudan.  

Kenyi is Social Behavior Change Communication Professional with experience in the use of Strategic Communication techniques for Social Change. In the last job held (Editor), he was responsible for the overall management and in supervision of diverse radio production team of BBC Media Action, South Sudan that produced content on girl’s education. Kenyi authored some blogs for BBC Media Action on girl child education.

Kenyi also worked in other media houses (both broadcast and the print). He is experienced in crafting segments to be aired on the radio and in writing stories for newspapers or magazines.  

Kenyi is a South Sudanese, and his research interest is Social media use for peace and development.  

Aazadi Fateh Muhammad is a doctoral student at EW Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Previously she was teaching as an Assistant Professor at the department of Mass Communication, Federal Urdu University for Arts Sciences & Technology Karachi for more than twelve years since April, 2010. She was associated with PTV Karachi for ten years since 2004 as a compare and host for live and recorded programs on cultural and social topics in Urdu and Sindhi, she participated as discussant in more than hundred talk shows on mainstream Urdu and Sindhi television channels in Pakistan including Hum TV, SAMA, GEO, Dawn, ARY, KTN, SINDH TV, MEHRAN, Awaz TV, and also participated in national debates on social issues and women empowerment at all leading national radio stations. She has more than twenty research papers published in recognized research journals, and some feature articles published in leading national newspapers in English, Urdu and Sindhi. Her prominent writings include ‘Media Education: Theory and Practise’, in daily dawn Sunday magazine on December 29, 2013. ‘Pakistanis can debunk myths about Islam, by protesting peacefully’, dated September 22, 2012. and blogs published in International School of Journalism, Ohio University blog and newsletters, in Summer 2012.

She served as founding head at department of Mass Communication at DHA college for women Karachi Phase VIII in 2010 and was part of teaching faculty at University of Karachi for four years from 2006 to 2010. She got first class first position and gold medal in MA Mass Communication in 2005/06 at University of Karachi.  She did her first PhD in February 2014 from Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi under the supervision of Prof Dr. Muhammad Shamsuddin. Her title of research was ‘Social Development in Sindh: A Study of Promotional Role of Electronic Media’. She focused on role and contributions of national television and radio in promoting awareness on health, education, women empowerment and family welfare. She has attended and participated in various international exchange and training programs including representing Pakistan in SUSI for Scholars 2012 at Ohio University, USA, Practitioner Training on Peace Making and Effective Communication at Kurve Wustrow Germany in February 2016, and her other international experiences include presenting paper on syllabus of Mass Communication in Dubai SZABIST Conference January 2016, successfully completed training on Women Peace Negotiator Program by Asian Resource Foundation and School of Peace Studies Thailand in December, 2015, participation in community talks and formal sessions at SANA Annual Conventions in 2011 and 2014 in USA.

Ms Muhammad has seventeen years of professional experience of teaching and research and also, she worked voluntarily with social and development sector for upholding community welfare and support. She strongly believes in Peace and Justice, she holds special concern for indigenous communities in Sindh and her recent research interests revolve around communication and media laws, media literacy, peace journalism and communication development.

She is also a mother of two happy children and is a devoted wife, daughter and sister. She has faith in helping and supporting people in any possible way to form peace and progress in society. 

Deniza Mulaj is a Ph.D. candidate of mass communication at Ohio University and holds an M.A. in cultural anthropology from the North Carolina State University. Mulaj is a teaching fellow at the Scripps College of Communication, Social Media Certificate Program. Her work focuses on the intersection of media, violence, and ethnicity, oriented towards the Balkan region, as well as questions of peacebuilding in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica, Kosova. Additionally, Mulaj is a co-founder and program manager of the Balkan Society for Theory and Practice (BSTP), an organization aiming to create a platform for critical research and academic and artistic collaboration in the Balkans. Before joining Ohio University, Mulaj worked for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN Kosovo) as a grant writer and project lead, covering issues in the legal framework on inheritance and women’s rights to property in Kosovo, investigative journalism, and monitoring of public procurement, auditing, and recruitments in public institutions.

Maryam Lasisi Mustapha is a doctoral student in Mass Communication/Journalism at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University. A Mass Communication Faculty at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Nigeria where she taught courses in advertising and public relations, drawing massively on her marketing and corporate communication background and work experience to inform their delivery. 
She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in mass communication respectively, from the University of Ilorin where she bagged a First Class Honours and University of Lagos, a distinction. These universities are considered Centres of Excellence in Mass Communication and Media Studies in Nigeria. These programmes have helped in acquiring a strong grasp of the fundamental of mass communication, conceptually, theoretically and methodologically, and fuelled her interest in further intellectual exploration of the field. 
Her undergraduate project, on newspapers reportage of University of Ilorin from its inception in 1975 to year 2008 by a team of eight students, under her leadership, exemplified her teamwork and leadership spirit. The report, which was eventually published as a compendium, received applauds from the university management and the Senate during the 2009 convocation ceremony. She currently teaches introduction to advertising and public relations as well as introduction to advertising and public relations writing at Ohio University. 
Besides Mass Communication, Maryam is also a member of the prestigious institute, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). A consummate academic, Maryam is a member of Learned and Professional Societies such as African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). 

Kezia Nanda, or Miss K as her students in Indonesia call her, is a proud doctoral student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She was a news reporter and a public relations specialist for various organizations both in Indonesia and in the United States.

Ever since she was a little child, she realized the power of communication and the media to build and destroy something or someone. In the doctoral program, she’s interested in studying racial and religious propaganda, social media, political communication, misrepresentation, strategic communication, and everything in between. Her paper on Blasphemy Laws to silence minority won an award at the AEJMC conference.

She received her master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a 4.0 GPA and a bachelor’s degree double majoring in Psychology and Communication from Ouachita Baptist University, Arkansas with a Cum Laude. She joined the American National Honor Society in Journalism & Mass Communication, Public Relations Society of America, The International Honor Society in Social Sciences and The International Honor Society in Psychology.

She was a lecturer for four years in Indonesia, and she strives to always be a passionate lecturer of communication who not only inspires students to do great work in their field but also to be kind. She loves globetrotting, eating sushi, drinking local beers, playing basketball, and dabbling on the piano.

Ann Lokeder Natiom is a course instructor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, where she teaches Introduction to Mass Communication while completing a Ph.D. in Mass Communication with the Journalism track.

A multimedia journalist, she has reported on sports for Nation Media Group in Kenya and Deutsche Welle in Germany, covering international football through live reporting, analysis and player interviews. At WOUB Public Media, she produced "I'm From," a web series on international students' resilience, and she has also worked as a photographer and documentary producer.

Natiom previously served as a teaching assistant for Writing and Reporting and The Future of Media. She holds an M.A. from Ohio University and a B.A. from Daystar University.

Ama Boatemaa Ofori-Birikorang is a doctoral student at the E.W Scripps College of Communication majoring in Media Arts & Studies. Originally from Ghana, Ama’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and French, which ignited her interest in issues related to power structures, decision making and social change.

After her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a gender and development coordinator at the Center for Media and Development Communication for a year. Center for Media and Development Communication (CMDC) is a non-governmental organization in Ghana that seeks to create awareness on issues regarding gender and minorities mainstreaming. As a gender and development coordinator, Ama was in-charge of developing programs and workshop for women and children empowerment within rural communities and wrote proposals to seek funding for initiatives.

Subsequently, she gained a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies (Strategic Communication) in Ghana and then joined the Center for International Studies at Ohio University in 2021. Throughout Ama’s graduate studies, her scholarly concerns have been mostly critical pedagogy, gender, and media studies. She has conducted studies on gender stereotypes, media framing and women empowerment within the Ghanaian context. More so, she found herself consistently engaged in rigorous research work and intense academic writing while as a Graduate Assistant/Teaching Assistant in Ghana and at Ohio University. Nonetheless, Ama is more inclined towards the qualitative paradigm as it satisfies her interest in interrogating issues in-depth to unravel hidden meanings.

Kanat Omurbekov, originally from Kyrgyzstan, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University. He is working on a thesis centered on the audience's lived experiences of film and media consumption.

Kanat Omurbekov came to the U.S. as a Fulbright student and obtained his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in film from Ohio University before starting his Ph.D. program. Kanat also holds a master’s degree in finance from Academy of Management under the President of Kyrgyzstan (AMPK). Before pursuing his MFA, Kanat had amassed industry experience in both film and finance in Kyrgyzstan. His filmography boasts numerous short films, including "Evening" (2013) and “River” (2023), among others. These films have been showcased at various international film festivals, garnering awards for their focus on social issues.

In addition to his primary focus on film, media, and audience studies, Kanat's research interests extend to areas such as social media, media and communication technologies, and culture. During his Ph.D. program, he has already worked as both a graduate assistant and an instructor of record for courses like Social Media and Technology, Communication, and Culture.

Adelaja Oriade is a third-year Ph.D. student and an instructor of record at Ohio University, Media Arts and Studies department. He also serves as a Peer Advisor of the International Student and Faculty Services (ISFS), Ohio University. In addition, He has served as a Teaching Assistant in the Media Arts & Studies Department of Ohio University (2019-2020), and a reviewer for the Ohio University Graduate Student Senate (GSU) 2021 Original Work Grants and Travel Awards (OWG).  

For his Ph.D. dissertation, Adelaja investigates the perspectives of Black immigrants and African Americans about the casting for historical African and African American movies in Hollywood. Also, as a passionate ally of the African LGBTQ community, he explores indigenous, innovative, and efficient channels to navigate the homophobic laws and unchecked victimization of Africans whose sexualities do not conform to predominant heterosexuality. Adelaja frames his research in mass communication, post-modern, and post-colonial theories.

Before joining the Ph.D. program at Ohio University, Adelaja completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from the Tai Solarin University (2010) and a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan (2017), Nigeria.  

Adelaja’s publication is titled, “Challenging Hegemonic Masculinity in Nigerian Hip Hop: An Evaluation of Gender Representation in Falz the Bahd Guy’s Moral Instruction Album.”

My name is Abukar Sanei, and I am originally from Somalia. I earned my bachelor’s degree in international studies with the emphasis on World Economics and Business from Ohio State University, Columbus. Also, I completed my master’s degree in African Studies and a graduate certificate in International Development Studies (IDS) from Ohio University in 2015.

I am now pursuing my Ph.D. in Mass Communication as I am now in my fourth year as a Ph.D. candidate. My research areas in my Ph.D. program include media and migration and diaspora communities in the United States. My special focus in the diaspora communities is the Somali immigrants as my dissertation title is Somali Immigrants and Media Use for Political Integration in the United States.

My professional background is African Studies and International Development Studies as I worked as a practitioner/independent consultant with various institutions such as the United Nations, African Union, and the Somali government from 2016 to 2020.

Sima Wang is a PhD student in Mass Communication at the School of Media Arts and Studies, Ohio University. He earned his master’s degree in film and media studies from Chongqing University.

Prior to joining the PhD program at OU, he worked as a media writer for a Chinese online media platform and a trade journal based in Shanghai. The articles that he wrote focused on analyzing Chinese entertainment industry, TV variety shows, and films. He also translated English books on films for, and recommended English books to, publishing houses in China.

In addition to media related occupation, he also worked as the head of business department and project planner of a Chinese cultural and creative product company. The projects he managed include: Yongjiang Village (awarded as 2020 National Beautiful Leisure Village by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China), Xianfeng Village (summer resort featuring Chinese Hmong culture), and several cultural and creative products based on local culture in Yibin, China.

His research interests span over a wide range, including social media, health communication, media industry, cultural studies, digital labor, star studies, and cancel culture.

Qian Zhang is a Ph.D. candidate in mass communication in the School of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University. She received her M.A. in film studies from the School of Film at Ohio University. Her current research focuses on motherhood in contemporary horror films by engaging with the theories of temporality. She has published articles on maternal horror and Asian American horror films, in which she adopts a cross-context perspective in horror studies with an emphasis on gender and race. Her paper, “It’s All About Repetition: Maternal Time in Horror from Jeanne Dielman (1975) to The Babadook (2014),” won the 2022 SCMS Horror SIG Graduate Student Prize. Her other research interests include media and gender, global art cinema, postcolonial and feminist film theory, and Asian/Asian American cinemas.