Journalism in the Global South: Expanding Epistemological Frameworks

Program

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Welcome Note, Opening, and positioning Remarks

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Ilhem Allagui, Director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program, Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Marwan Kraidy, Dean and CEO, Northwestern University in Qatar, Anthony Shadid Chair of Global in Global Media, Politics and Culture, Northwestern University 

Eddy Borges-Rey, Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Panel 1: Decolonizing Journalism

11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

The formative stages and consolidation of what we now recognize as journalism were significantly influenced by the practices of colonial power structures as manifested in, for example, journaling and transnational travel journalism. These periods were crucial in institutionalizing the key fundamentals of news storytelling, subsequently laying the foundation for the professionalization of journalism in the 1920s. This historical development facilitated the widespread adoption and standardization of journalistic practices and ideals, deeply entrenched in the ethos of colonial powers and epistemic assumptions, across societies under colonial rule. In addressing this complex heritage, this academic panel endeavors to critically examine and interrogate these enduring legacies within contemporary journalism studies and practice, as well as contrast journalistic praxises of the Global North and the Global South. The focus of the panel extends to the decolonization of research and news agendas, aiming to parse and critically examine the remnants of colonial influence that shape narrative-construction and operational frameworks of modern journalism.

Academic disciplines such as colonial and post-colonial theory, cultural imperialism, and transnational hegemony, among others, have provided insights into the dynamics through which Western journalism standards were exported—via foreign aid, university curricula, or professional training—to diverse geopolitical and cultural contexts. Such examination is critical in understanding the challenges and implications of these imposed standards for journalism in former colonies, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and representative journalistic practice that transcends the historical confines of colonial legacies.

This panel discussion commemorates the 25th anniversary of the landmark publication De-Westernizing Media Studies by James Curran and Myung-Jin Park; and the 10th anniversary of De-Westernizing Communication Studies: A Reassessment by Silvio Waisbord and Claudia Mellado. It continues the tradition of challenging Western-centric theoretical and conceptual frameworks by emphasizing the importance of decentering communication, media, and journalism studies through a Global South perspective.

Panelists

Claudia Mellado
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile

Biography

Claudia Mellado is Professor of Journalism in the School of Journalism at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. She is also a Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University (UK) and an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC).

She is the principal investigator of the international Journalistic Role Performance (JRP) Project, a cross-national, theory-driven initiative established in 2013 to systematically analyze the state of journalistic cultures within the media landscape across the world. Her work has been widely published in leading journals, including Journal of Communication, International Journal of Press/Politics, Digital Journalism, Journalism, JMCQ, Journalism Studies, Communication Theory, International Journal of Communication, and Journalism Practice, among others. In addition to her research contributions, she serves on the editorial boards of many of these journals and was Associate Editor of Communication Theory from 2013 to 2015.

Professor Mellado has mentored B.A., master’s, and Ph.D. students in Chile and internationally. She has received numerous research accolades, including the Journal Article of the Year Award (MeCCSA), the Wolfgang Donsbach Article of the Year Award (Journalism Studies Division, ICA), the Top Faculty Paper Award (JSD, ICA), and the Top Faculty Award in the ICD Stevenson Competition (AEJMC).

Her last edited books include Beyond Journalistic Norms: Role Performance and News in Comparative Perspective(Routledge, 2021) and The Handbook of Political Campaigning (Routledge, 2024).

Silvio Waisbord
The George Washington University, US

Biography

Silvio Waisbord is Professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He is President and Fellow of the International Communication Association. He is Editor of the International Journal of Communication. He is the author and editor of twenty books, as well as articles on journalism and politics, communication studies, media policy, and communication for social change. His most recent books are the forthcoming Introduction to Journalism (Polity) and (co-edited with TJ Billard) Public Scholarship in Communication Studies (U of Illinois Press, 2024). He served as Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University (2020-2023). Also, he is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Communication and the International Journal of Press/Politics. Waisbord received a Licenciatura in Sociology from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego. 

Ibrahim N. Abusharif
Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Ibrahim N. Abusharif, PhD, is an associate professor in residence in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program. His fields of research include narrative journalism, religious studies, and the decolonization of storytelling. Specifically, his academic interests include the study of the intersections of religion and media, particularly digital media disruptions and their effects on contemporary religious authority. He also researches the origins, promulgation, and effects of key journalistic framing terminologies used in prominent Western news sources in their coverage and reportage of the Middle East and Muslim minorities in the West.

Born and raised in Chicago, he studied the biological sciences as an undergraduate, and later he received his master's from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and his doctorate in religious and Islamic studies from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Teaching: He teaches courses in journalism and religious studies. As for journalism, he teaches: “Feature and Magazine Writing” (Jour 321); “Journalistic Storytelling Across Media” (Jour 201); “News Gathering and Assessment” (Jour 301). As for religious studies, he teaches “Media and Religion” and “Islam, America, and Media.”

Grants: Abusharif and colleagues from GU-Q and HBKU have recently been awarded a “Multiversity Grant—Innovation in Teaching Grant.” The project focuses on “Developing a Case Study Model for Teaching religious pluralism in the Arab and Islamic World.” In the past he has been awarded an “Undergraduate Research Experience Program Grant” to study social media texts and the Gulf Crisis.

Professionally, he has worked as a journalist, magazine editor, writer, publisher, translator, and academic. His journalistic articles and reviews have appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Christian Science Monitor, Dallas Morning News, Religion Dispatches, The Millions, Beliefnet.com, and other print and online publications. His professional journalistic interests focus on religion reporting.

He is a published writer of short fiction. As a former book publisher, he edited more than 30 books and translations. In the past, he has been involved in projects to translate—from Arabic into English—the Quran (the Muslim scripture), as well as classical texts of Islamic civilization. 

His recent publishing efforts may be accessed at: https://northwestern.academia.edu/IbrahimAbusharif

Discussant

Eddy Borges-Rey
Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Eddy Borges-Rey is an associate professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar. His area of academic expertise is digital journalism and emerging media, and his teaching includes courses on mobile journalism, data journalism, and social media for journalists, amongst others. Prior to obtaining an MA and PhD in media and communication from the University of Malaga in Spain, Borges-Rey worked as a broadcast journalist, media producer, and PR practitioner for almost 15 years.

Overall, Borges-Rey’s research looks at the interplay between media, technology, and power, particularly around issues in data journalism, critical data, code and algorithm studies, artificial intelligence and automation, mobile journalism, innovation, photojournalism, and data and media literacy.

He is co-editor of the edited collection Data Journalism in the Global South (Palgrave), and the book series Palgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South. Borges-Rey is also the engagement editor of Journalism Practice. His research has been published in journals such as Digital Journalism (Taylor and Francis), Journalism Practice (Taylor and Francis), Journalism (Sage), and Convergence (Sage), amongst others. He has contributed to field-defining publications such as The Routledge Handbook of Developments in Digital Journalism Studies and the second edition of the Data Journalism Handbook.

Lunch
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.

[Back to top]

Panel 2: Feminist Journalism and Entrepreneurship across the Global South

2:00 - 3:15 p.m.

Women continue to face symbolic annihilation, a phenomenon where they are underrepresented, misrepresented, or trivialized in mainstream media narratives. According to the latest findings from the Global Media Monitoring Project, women's voices and perspectives remain significantly marginalized across various media platforms, perpetuating gender biases and reinforcing unequal power dynamics. Additionally, a 2024 study conducted by the Reuters Institute indicates that women continue to be significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, with men predominantly occupying top editorial roles. Approximately only one-quarter of these top editorial positions are held by women. Amid these challenges, a powerful movement of feminist media entrepreneurship is blossoming in the Global South. Here, women are not just facing traditional norms; they are pushing back against them and carving out spaces for their voices and stories. They are determined to ensure their experiences are heard and valued, turning the spotlight on their unique narratives.

This panel explores the dynamics of feminist media entrepreneurship in the Global South, exploring the innovative ways in which women are reshaping the media landscape to amplify marginalized voices and advance gender equality. In her 2019 book Arab Women on the Ground, an ontology of Arab female journalists’ experiences, journalist and author Zahra Hankir writes, “Some of the women are independent journalists or ‘media activist” (...) their work (...) often involves expressing opinions or taking stances, a brand journalism that would be deemed unacceptable to traditional Western media outlets, most of which mandate high standards of impartiality (...) To be a sahafiya in the region can entail engaging in some form of defiance against state or state actors- not by choice, but simply by doing one’s job.” 

Potential themes to be tackled include the role of digital platforms in facilitating feminist media ventures, strategies for sustainable and inclusive media business models, the intersectionality of gender, race, and class in media entrepreneurship, and the impact of feminist media initiatives on social change and community empowerment. Additionally, the panel will address the impact of women leadership in media and the creative industries.

Through diverse perspectives and case studies from across the Global South, this panel aims to inspire dialogue and collaboration toward a more equitable and representative media ecosystem.

Panelists

Noura Al Obeidi
NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE

Biography

Dr. Noura Al Obeidli is a visiting assistant professor of gender studies and media studies at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and a former research fellow. As an emerging ethnographer and academic professor, her research focuses on journalistic practices and newsroom norms, with an emphasis on themes such as gender dynamics, tribal patriarchalism, and media culture in the Emirates.

Dr. Al Obeidli has contributed to academic scholarship through her recent book, Emirati Women Journalists: Bargaining with Patriarchy in Search of Equality, and her book chapter, Unmasking Patriarchy: Emirati Women Journalists Challenging Newsroom Norms in Pursuit of Equality. She also teaches two undergraduate courses, furthering her impact on the academic community. 

Prior to joining academia, she worked as a public relations professional for ten years, during which she developed promotional marketing plans, created crisis communications policies, and managed stakeholder relationships. Her professional experience enriches her teaching and research perspectives.

Driven by her commitment to gender equality and feminism, Dr. Al Obeidli has published numerous news features highlighting empowered Emirati women in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as aviation and engineering. She has also lectured on gender politics, organized campaigns to raise awareness about women’s health and welfare, and completed professional internships in news reporting at Al Rai News Centre in Kuwait and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in England.

For a complete portfolio of her work, visit her NYUAD profile.

Zahra Hankir
Author, Our women on the ground

Biography

Zahra Hankir is a Lebanese journalist, editor and author who writes about the intersection of politics, culture, and society. Her work has appeared in publications including Teen Vogue, Al Jazeera English, Condé Nast Traveler and The Observer Magazine. She is the editor of Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World, and the author of Eyeliner: A Cultural History. She is currently editing Let It Be a Tale: Palestinian Journalists on Survival and Resistance, which will be published by Penguin Books in 2027.

Christina M. Paschyn
Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Christina M. Paschyn, MS and MA, is a multimedia journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She has reported for major news organizations across the globe, including the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, TIME.com in London, E News in Johannesburg and KVRR-TV as the station’s congressional correspondent in Washington, D.C. Her video work has appeared on CNN and Euronews and her writing has been published in The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, Women’s eNews, Chime for Change, Al-Fanar Media, THINK. Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Cosmopolitan Middle East and the Chicago Journal, among other publications.

Paschyn wrote, shot, and directed the documentary film, “A Struggle for Home: The Crimean Tatars.” The film chronicles the rich and often tragic history of the Crimean Tatar people, the Muslim-Turkic indigenous population of the Crimean Peninsula, from ancient times to the aftermath of the 2014 Russian annexation of the peninsula. It premiered at the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival in November 2015 and played in several other film festivals and professional venues, including the European Parliament in Brussels and the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C. It won several awards, including Best International Film at the DC Independent Film Festival in March 2016, Best Documentary at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in April 2016, and 1st place Short Foreign Documentary at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in August 2016. The film was purchased for broadcast by Al Jazeera and Axess TV.

In her work as a journalist, Paschyn has covered a variety of under-reported topics, such as women’s rights and gender issues in the Gulf, education policies in the GCC, deteriorating press freedom in Ukraine, net neutrality, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster anniversary and its relevance to the Fukushima nuclear crisis. She delivered live shots and interviews about the rocket strikes on Be’er Sheva during the 2009 Israel-Gaza War for multiple news outlets, including WEWS News Channel 5 in Cleveland.

Paschyn earned a MA in Middle East Studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. There, she volunteered as a video producer for Step Forward, an NGO working to empower the Bedouin population in the city of Rahat. Paschyn also earned a BS and a MS in broadcast journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University through its Accelerated Master’s Degree Program. Paschyn also speaks Ukrainian and is studying Arabic. 

Discussant
Ilhem Allagui
Director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program, Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Allagui’s academic experience includes more than 15 years of teaching at the University of Montreal, Canada, and the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. She also has experience working for a communication agency and for the new media industry in Montreal. Allagui specializes in teaching integrated marketing communication (IMC) courses, particularly public relations, advertising, IMC and strategic research methods. She also taught Arab media courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels when invited as summer Visiting Professor at the Institute of Journalism and Communication, IJK, Hannover, Germany (Summer 2018).  Her research interests focus on, among other things, the social integration of new media in the Arab region, the Arab cultural industries, and IMC practices (i.e. advertising, public relations)  in the MENA region.

Allagui is the author of the forthcoming book, Advertising in MENA Goes Digital, published by Routledge (March, 2019). She has contributed to global forums and congresses, held conference presentations, published dozens of peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles, and has edited and co-edited special section volumes on the role of new media in the MENA region’ social transformations. Allagui serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Communication (USC) and the journal Internet Histories (Taylor & Francis) and as a reviewer for several academic journals. She earned a PhD in communication sciences from the University of Montreal, Canada.

Coffee break
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.

[Back to top]

Panel 3: Social Media Influencers and Self-Media

3:30 - 4:45 p.m.

Periodically, the landscape of journalism undergoes significant shifts due to the emergence and subsequent adoption of new technologies. Social media stands out as one of these pivotal changes, challenging journalists to revisit and expand the traditional confines of news production. In societies where digital media has become pervasive, social media influencers and personalities are at the forefront, emerging as key figures in shaping consumer preferences and molding public opinion. This dynamic has transformed them into crucial mediators of information, influencing not just the marketplace but also the broader public discourse in unprecedented ways. This panel explores the significant impact of social media influencers and self-media on journalism practice.

How do influencers, acting as modern-day opinion leaders, leverage their platforms to shape societal trends and consumer behaviors? With a particular focus on the concept of self-media—highlighted by the emergence of individual content creators in regions like China, who use social media to build communities and personal brands, and report the news from a personal perspective—the panel aims to interrogate the influence wielded by these digital personalities on their followers' attitudes and behaviors, dissecting the strategies employed by influencers to engage with their audience, establish credibility, and sustain loyalty.

Moreover, the panel will critically examine the opinion-leadership dynamics inherent in the relationship between influencers and their audiences as they report the news. The ethical dilemmas surrounding the often ambiguous boundaries between authentic advocacy, the cultivation of user trust, and commercial endorsements will be scrutinized, shedding light on the challenges and responsibilities facing influencers and the platforms that host them.

By providing a multidimensional analysis of the role and impact of social media influencers and self-media in journalism practice, this panel aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of their influence on journalism, public discourse, and consumer culture in the digital age.

Panelists

Tanja Bosch
University of Cape Town, South Africa

Biography

Tanja Bosch is Professor of Media Studies and Production at the Centre for Film and Media Studies. She is the author of Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in South Africa (HSRC Press, 2017), Social Media and Everyday Life in South Africa (Routledge 2020); co-editor of Digital Citizenship in Africa (Zed Books, 2023), and Digital Feminist Citizenship in Africa (Bloomsbury, 2025); as well co-editor of the Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics (2^nd edition, forthcoming).

Her research includes work on decolonising digital methods, digital citizenship, and social media culture and activism. Professor Bosch is the Editor of African Journalism Studies and Associate Editor of Communication Theory. She is Chairperson of the African Digital Rights Network, a network of scholars and activists; and she currently holds the position of NRF South African Research Chair in the Digital Humanities.

Kecheng Fang
Chinese University of Hong Kong

Biography

Dr. Kecheng Fang is an Assistant Professor and Director of the M.A. in Journalism Program at the School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). His research interests include journalism, political communication, and digital media. He received his Ph.D. degree from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining academia, he worked as a journalist at the Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly. He received the Early Career Award from the Association for Chinese Communication Studies (ACCS) in 2024.

William Youmans
Visiting Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

William Lafi Youmans is a visiting associate professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar. He is broadly interested in questions of transnationalism, power and communication, with his primary research interests focusing on global news, media industries, technology, law, and politics. His other areas of research interest include media law, Middle East politics, and Arab American studies.

Youmans is the author of Unlikely Audience: Al Jazeera's Struggle in America (Oxford UP), which examines Al Jazeera’s efforts to gain a share of the news market in the United States. He has been quoted in articles in Salon, Washington Post, Newsweek, Variety, and The New York Times, among others. He was a guest on radio and television programs, such as NPR, Headline News, Al Jazeera English, and ARD. He has published in the Washington Post, Middle East Report, and Nieman Journalism Lab.

His paper on Arab Detroit won the Best Paper Award in the International Communication Section of the International Studies Association. It was later published in The Communication Review.

Youmans presented at academic conferences, including the annual gatherings of the Middle East Studies Association, the International Communication Association, the National Communication Association, the International Studies Association, and the American Sociological Association.

He is currently working on two long-term projects. The first is a documentary film about Alex Odeh, a Palestinian American activist who was assassinated in Orange County, CA, in 1985. The crime is unsolved and still haunts the local community to this day. The second is a major video archive he is building of Arab American TV, a program that ran out of Los Angeles from the early 1980s to the early 2000s.

Youmans obtained his BA and PhD from the University of Michigan. He also holds a JD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Discussant
Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor
Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor is a South African who strives to make an impact by empowering underrepresented voices on various media platforms, through her work as an academic, editorial consultant, and journalist. Her research interests focus on the challenges of digital reporting in complex cultural environments, podcasting in the Global South, and exploring the portrayal of women of color in new digital spaces.

Scheherazade holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University and has more than twenty years of experience in the broadcast and corporate communications industry. Her career began at Channel 5 in London before joining South Africa’s first 24-hour news channel, ENCA, as a reporter and news anchor.

Scheherazade has also produced and hosted documentary specials. She spent two years as a digital media manager before returning to report full-time for global news outlets like TRT World in Turkey, and Al Jazeera English. Most recently, she was a senior reporter/producer for The Exchange and Qatar 365 on Euronews.

[Back to top]

Monday, February 10, 2025

Panel 4: Frontiers of Journalism Education: Ethical Integration of AI in Global Contexts

9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

This panel explores the future of journalism education as Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms every aspect of the field, especially in the Global South. AI holds the potential to greatly advance journalism education by introducing tools that drive innovation and improve efficiency. However, it also presents critical challenges, including the risk of algorithmic bias, the exacerbation of the digital divide, and the marginalization of local narratives—particularly in regions with unique socio-cultural contexts.

In addressing these complex challenges, the panel will examine how educators can cultivate critical thinking to ensure AI is used both ethically and inclusively. Furthermore, the discussion will underscore the significance of collaboration between academia and industry, highlighting the need to equip students with the skills required to navigate rapidly evolving technologies while remaining attuned to local socio-cultural contexts. The panel will also consider the potential impact of AI on local journalism, exploring whether it may serve to empower marginalized communities or, conversely, reinforce existing power imbalances.

By exploring both the opportunities and challenges of AI, this panel seeks to initiate a critical dialogue on the ethical integration of AI in journalism education. The goal is to ensure that technological advancements foster more inclusive, contextually aware media practices, with particular emphasis on addressing the unique needs and dynamics of the Global South.

What are the key strategies for journalism education to effectively tackle AI's ethical and socio-cultural challenges? This is crucial to ensure that the integration of AI fosters inclusivity and minimizes biases, especially in the Global South.

What strategies can educators uniquely use to cultivate critical thinking and adaptability, equipping students to navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape while emphasizing local context and community engagement?

How can collaboration between academia and industry be strengthened to ensure journalism students are not just prepared, but deeply prepared for the practical and ethical implications of AI-driven innovations in media?

Panelists

George Ogonda
Nottingham University, UK

Biography

George Ogola is Professor of Media Industries and Director of the PGT programmes in the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies (CMVS), University of Nottingham. He has published widely on the intersections of (digital) technologies and the news media, politics, and popular culture in Africa and the wider global South. Some of his key outputs include Popular Media in Kenya’s History: Fiction and Newspapers as Socio-Political Actors (New York: Palgrave Macmillan), The Future of Quality Journalism: A Cross-Continental Analysis (London and New York: Routledge, co-edited with Peter Anderson and Michael Williams), and The Future of Television in the Global South: Reflections from Selected Countries (London: Palgrave). He is currently working on a book on AI and Journalism in Africa. He previously worked at the Standard newspapers in Kenya and was a correspondent for the Sunday Times, South Africa and News Africa, UK.

Walid Al-Saqaf
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar

Biography

Dr. Walid Al-Saqaf is an Associate Professor in Journalism at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, combining unique expertise in Computer Engineering (B.Sc.) and Media and Communication (Ph.D.). His interdisciplinary research explores the intersection of emerging technologies and journalism, focusing on blockchain, AI, and digital media analysis. He has developed innovative tools including Mecodify for digital data analysis and Alkasir for studying web censorship. Currently investigating news flow dynamics on platforms like X and Telegram, his work bridges technical innovation with journalistic practice. His distinctive approach integrates cutting-edge digital tools into both research and teaching, advancing understanding of technology's impact on modern journalism.

Miriam Berg
Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Miriam Berg is an associate professor in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern University Qatar. Her research focuses on understanding the media consumption patterns of Arab, refugee, migrant, and diasporic audiences. Equally, she is interested in the transnational appeal of Turkish cultural products and their growing role as a source of Turkish soft power.

At Northwestern Qatar, she also serves as the faculty adviser for the Qatari Culture Club. In addition to her doctorate obtained from the School of Media and Communication at the University of Westminster, she also holds a bachelor's degree in communication and audio-visual production studies and a master's degree in communication management.

Berg has previously worked at Al Jazeera English in Doha, Qatar, and for Bloomberg News in London.

Berg is the author of the book Turkish Drama Serials: The Importance and Influence of a Globally Popular Television Phenomenon published by the University of Exeter Press.

Discussant
Mohammed Ibahrine
Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Mohammed Ibahrine is professor in residence in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern University in Qatar. Ibahrine joins Northwestern Qatar from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), where he served as professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program in the School of Business and Administration (SBA). 

Prior to joining AUS, he was a lecturer at the University of Hamburg and the University of Erfurt, Germany, as well as an assistant professor at Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. He has worked at several universities in Germany, Morocco, the UK, the USA, the UAE, and Qatar. 

Ibahrine is a social scientist committed to interdisciplinary research on technology, business, and human interaction in cultural, political, social, and economic contexts. He won several teaching, research, and creative awards and has published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Journalism Practice, Online Information Review, Asian Studies, and Religions. His research publications can be found on his Google Scholar page.

Coffee break
11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

[Back to top]

Panel 5: Expanding the Ontological Contours of Journalism

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Historically, journalism has been conceptualized, both in scholarly and professional circles, through a Western notion of journalism, where the media's aim is to hold the powerful accountable (Siebert et al., 1956). This ontology of journalism, enacted mostly in the United States and other Global North countries, assigns the role of the Fourth Estate to media institutions and views journalism as an industry that fulfills the watchdog function to the power elites. As a result of this ontological predominance, any form of journalism that diverts from these axiomatic roles often receives severe critique when viewed through a Western prism. As the concept of the Global South started to gain more traction in the world, the conversation shifted to the need to de-Westernize journalism studies, and by default, expand the definitions of journalism beyond the West (Waisbord & Mellado, 2014). Today, instead of speaking of one journalism culture, we refer to different journalistic cultures that exist in various parts of the world.

This panel aims to critically explore and expand the ontological and epistemological foundations of journalism practice and scholarship, particularly focusing on the diverse journalistic cultures beyond the Global North. Panelists will examine the multifaceted ways in which journalism is practiced and conceptualized in the Global South, highlighting how epistemological claims and journalistic practices are uniquely shaped by the socio-political, cultural, and economic contexts of these regions.

The panel seeks to understand journalism in outlets in Latina America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, aiming to uncover insights into how journalism practices respond to local concerns, pressures, and values. Through this examination, the panel intends to contribute to a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of global journalism, challenging prevailing Western-centric perspectives and fostering a dialogue that embraces the rich diversity of journalistic practices worldwide.

Panelists

Hayes Mabweazara
University of Glasgow, UK

Biography

Dr Hayes Mawindi Mabweazara is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, UK, where he is affiliated with the Glasgow University Media Group. He is Associate Editor of the journals, Journalism Studies and African Journalism Studies, and a senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Mabweazara is co-author of Participatory Journalism in Africa and editor of Media Capture in Africa and Latin America  (2025), Newsmaking Cultures in Africa (2018), Digital Technologies & the Evolving African Newsroom (2015) and Online Journalism in Africa (2014). He serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals, including Digital Journalism, Journalism Practice, Convergence, and Communication Theory, among others. 

Hanan Badr
University of Salzburg, Austria

Biography

Hanan Badr is Professor and Head of the Public Spheres and Inequalities Division at the University of Salzburg, Austria. Her academic socialization has evolved between European and Arab universities where she studied journalism and international communication in Cairo and Erfurt. She held positions at Freie Universität Berlin, Cairo University, Gulf University for Sciences and Technology in Kuwait and Orient-Institut Beirut/Max Weber Foundation. Her work focuses on global inequalities in communication, journalism and media coverage, comparing media systems, digital public spheres, activism and transformation. Recent books include “Arab Berlin; Dynamics of Transformation” (2023), “Media Governance: A cosmopolitan critique” (2022) and “Critical Research Methods with Global inclusivity” (2025). She held positions at Freie Universität Berlin, Cairo University, Gulf University for Sciences and Technology in Kuwait and Orient-Institut Beirut/Max Weber Foundation. She is Associate Editor in Journalism Practice and was Hanan won awards including the Kluge Fellowship at the Library of Congress.

Claudia Kozman
Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Claudia Kozman (Ph.D., Indiana University) is an assistant professor in residence in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program. As a journalism scholar, she studies the news and public perceptions of the news from a comparative perspective. Integrating communication theories within a broader media systems approach, she focuses on the contexts of conflict and sports to analyze news content as a product of the intersection of journalistic norms and external influences, such as politics and laws, in a given media system. From the audience side, Kozman’s research explores public opinion during conflict to uncover patterns in media dependency, news consumption, and information dissemination. The main theoretical frameworks she relies on are framing, sourcing, and selection bias (selective exposure, avoidance, and sharing).

Kozman’s research on sports has explored sports news in contentious issues that carry political and societal significance, such as the use of steroids in baseball. Specifically, she examined the intersection of sports and politics through a framing and sourcing approach. Her current research takes a media systems perspective to understand how the media cover daily sports news and international mega events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Prior to joining academia, Kozman worked in journalism for 13 years, most of which were in sports, as reporter, editor, producer, and anchor, in print, digital, and broadcast media. During her career, she covered numerous Lebanese, pan-Arab, and Asian sports tournaments, as well as international ones, including the Winter Olympic Games. Alongside working as a journalist, Kozman has occupied managerial and editorial positions in online media in Lebanon and was the press secretary of the president of the Asian Football Confederation in Malaysia.

Discussant

Eddy Borges-Rey
Associate Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Eddy Borges-Rey is an associate professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar. His area of academic expertise is digital journalism and emerging media, and his teaching includes courses on mobile journalism, data journalism, and social media for journalists, amongst others. Prior to obtaining an MA and PhD in media and communication from the University of Malaga in Spain, Borges-Rey worked as a broadcast journalist, media producer, and PR practitioner for almost 15 years.

Overall, Borges-Rey’s research looks at the interplay between media, technology, and power, particularly around issues in data journalism, critical data, code and algorithm studies, artificial intelligence and automation, mobile journalism, innovation, photojournalism, and data and media literacy.

He is co-editor of the edited collection Data Journalism in the Global South (Palgrave), and the book series Palgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South. Borges-Rey is also the engagement editor of Journalism Practice. His research has been published in journals such as Digital Journalism (Taylor and Francis), Journalism Practice (Taylor and Francis), Journalism (Sage), and Convergence (Sage), amongst others. He has contributed to field-defining publications such as The Routledge Handbook of Developments in Digital Journalism Studies and the second edition of the Data Journalism Handbook.

Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

[Back to top]

Panel 6: Influential interlocutors: Stringers, freelancers and non-profits

2:15 - 3:45 p.m. 

This panel will explore the innovative strategies journalists are using to engage and expand their audiences. Key topics will include the experimentation with new monetized platforms and the establishment of newsrooms funded through alternative sources, such as substack and non-profit journalism.

Non-profit journalism organizations are emerging as powerful entities capable of delivering in-depth, unbiased reporting. By relying on donations, grants, and memberships rather than traditional advertising revenue, these organizations can prioritize public interest over profit. This model not only enhances the quality of journalism but also fosters greater independence and reduces susceptibility to partisan pressures. But how effective is this model in attracting news consumers and implementing tangible change not only in the industry but also in the communities nonprofit journalists report on?

Likewise, Substack, a platform that allows journalists to monetize their newsletters directly through subscriptions, represents another transformative approach. By enabling journalists to build and maintain a direct relationship with their readers, Substack empowers them to produce content that resonates deeply with their audience. Discussants will explore how this direct-to-consumer model can significantly increase news consumption and audience reach, as it bypasses traditional gatekeepers and allows for more personalized and niche content.

The panel will also explore the growing role of stringers—freelance correspondents who contribute to media outlets from various locations. Stringers are crucial in providing diverse perspectives and accessing remote regions, thereby enriching global coverage. Participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities within the stringer model, including ethical considerations, safety concerns, and evolving journalistic standards.

In addition, panelists will address impending scenarios and ethical dilemmas in the fast-evolving journalistic space. How can journalists navigate these changes while maintaining integrity and trust? What are the best practices for ensuring the safety and ethical treatment of stringers? These questions and more will be at the forefront of our discussion which explores these critical issues and the future of journalism in an era of rapid change and innovation.

Panelists

Kalyani Chadha
Northwestern University, US

Biography 

Kalyani Chadha is a professor of journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Informed by critical and sociological theorizing, her scholarship is international in its orientation, with a particular emphasis on journalism-related developments in India. Her recent work focuses on the rise of various forms of digital journalism, both news outlets produced by and aimed at marginalized groups as well as right wing news media. She is the author of Disrupting Mainstream Journalism in India: The Rise of Alternative Journalisms Online (2024) as well as co-editor of Newswork and Precarity (2022), both published by Routledge. She has published over thirty articles in prestigious journals including Digital Journalism and Journalism Studies, the International Journal of Communication and Media, Culture and Society. She has also contributed chapters to several edited collections and encyclopedias. Chadha currently serves on the editorial boards of Digital Journalism, Journalism Practice, Mass Media and Media as well as Journalism and Communication Monographs.

Beate Josephi
Edith Cowan University, Australia

Biography

Dr. Beate Josephi is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. Her publications include an edited volume on Journalism Education in Countries with Limited Media Freedom (2010), and a much-cited edited issue of Journalism on ‘Decoupling Journalism and Democracy’ (2013). As part of the Worlds of Journalism Study team, she is lead author of the chapter ‘Profiles of Journalists’ in Worlds of Journalism (2019, ed. Hanitzsch et al.), and author of chapters and entries in international handbooks on journalism, and many internationally published articles in high-ranking journals. A former chair of IAMCR’s journalism research and education section, her research interests centre on journalism and its importance within and outside democracy, journalists and their work, particularly in the Global South, and literary journalism. She is on the editorial board of numerous journals, including Australian Journalism Review, Brazilian Journalism Research, Literary Journalism Studies and International Communication Gazette.

Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor
Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor is a South African who strives to make an impact by empowering underrepresented voices on various media platforms, through her work as an academic, editorial consultant, and journalist. Her research interests focus on the challenges of digital reporting in complex cultural environments, podcasting in the Global South, and exploring the portrayal of women of color in new digital spaces.

Scheherazade holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University and has more than twenty years of experience in the broadcast and corporate communications industry. Her career began at Channel 5 in London before joining South Africa’s first 24-hour news channel, ENCA, as a reporter and news anchor.

Scheherazade has also produced and hosted documentary specials. She spent two years as a digital media manager before returning to report full-time for global news outlets like TRT World in Turkey, and Al Jazeera English. Most recently, she was a senior reporter/producer for The Exchange and Qatar 365 on Euronews.

Discussant

Christina M. Paschyn
Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar 

Biography

Christina M. Paschyn, MS and MA, is a multimedia journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She has reported for major news organizations across the globe, including the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, TIME.com in London, E News in Johannesburg and KVRR-TV as the station’s congressional correspondent in Washington, D.C. Her video work has appeared on CNN and Euronews and her writing has been published in The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, Women’s eNews, Chime for Change, Al-Fanar Media, THINK. Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Cosmopolitan Middle East and the Chicago Journal, among other publications.

Paschyn wrote, shot, and directed the documentary film, “A Struggle for Home: The Crimean Tatars.” The film chronicles the rich and often tragic history of the Crimean Tatar people, the Muslim-Turkic indigenous population of the Crimean Peninsula, from ancient times to the aftermath of the 2014 Russian annexation of the peninsula. It premiered at the Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival in November 2015 and played in several other film festivals and professional venues, including the European Parliament in Brussels and the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C. It won several awards, including Best International Film at the DC Independent Film Festival in March 2016, Best Documentary at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in April 2016, and 1st place Short Foreign Documentary at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in August 2016. The film was purchased for broadcast by Al Jazeera and Axess TV.

In her work as a journalist, Paschyn has covered a variety of under-reported topics, such as women’s rights and gender issues in the Gulf, education policies in the GCC, deteriorating press freedom in Ukraine, net neutrality, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster anniversary and its relevance to the Fukushima nuclear crisis. She delivered live shots and interviews about the rocket strikes on Be’er Sheva during the 2009 Israel-Gaza War for multiple news outlets, including WEWS News Channel 5 in Cleveland.

Paschyn earned a MA in Middle East Studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. There, she volunteered as a video producer for Step Forward, an NGO working to empower the Bedouin population in the city of Rahat. Paschyn also earned a BS and a MS in broadcast journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University through its Accelerated Master’s Degree Program. Paschyn also speaks Ukrainian and is studying Arabic. 

Closing Remarks

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

[Back to top]