Biography

Jad Melki, the research director of ICMPA and a faculty member at the Salzburg Academy, is an assistant professor of journalism and media studies at the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the American University of Beirut. Previously, he was a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University and Towson University, teaching courses in research methods, media and society, media literacy, and media, war and terrorism. Melki has been a broadcast and online journalist for over 10 years working with American and Arabic media. He was part of the Webby award and Press Club award winning Hot Zone team (Yahoo! News), covering the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon. Before that, he was a project manager at the Salzburg Global Seminar and a faculty researcher at the College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in journalism and media studies from the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.  website

Curriculum Vitae

CURRENT WORK:

Assistant Professor, Journalism and Media Studies, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Research Director, International Center for Media & the Public Agenda, University of Maryland.
Visiting Faculty, Johns Hopkins University and Towson University, USA.
Faculty, The Salzburg Academy for Media and Global Change, Salzburg, Austria (Summer).

 
EDUCATION:

Ph.D., Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Maryland, College Park, USA, 2008.
Master of Arts, Journalism & Mass Communication, Kent State University, USA, 2001.
Certificate IV in Television & Video Production, Metro Screen, Australia, 1998.
Bachelor of Sciences, Computer Science, University of Balamand, Lebanon, 1996.

 
HONORS & SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS:

American University of Beirut, Issam Fares Institute, research grant, 2009.
American University of Beirut, URB research grant, 2009.
Towson University, research grant, 2007.
International Center for Media and the Public Agenda, Research Grant, 2006.
Philip Merrill College of Journalism Research Grant, 2006.
Towson University Faculty Travel Grant, 2006.
Jacob K. Goldhaber Travel Award, 2006.
Jack Shaheen Mass Communication Scholarship for Arab-American Journalists, 2006.
Philip Merrill College of Journalism Graduate Student Travel Grant, 2005.
Philip Merrill College of Journalism Graduate Student Research Grant, 2004.
The Hiebert International Travel Award for Journalists, 2004.
Kappa Tau Alpha, Honor Society for Journalists Award, 2001.
Kent State University International Student Award, 2001.
Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars Award, 2000 & 2001.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Assistant Professor, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, Spring 2009 – current
Research Methods (Graduate level)
            - Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative methods in Mass Communication research. 
            - Designing & implementing scientific research including intermediate statistics.
Digital Media Literacy (Undergraduate level)
            - How to effectively create, access, analyze, and evaluate digital media.
            - Applying the latest innovations in media literacy
Arab Media and Society (Graduate level)
Media and Society (Undergraduate level)
Broadcast Journalism (Undergraduate level)
Principles of Advertising (Undergraduate level)
Principles of Public Relations (Undergraduate level)

Visiting Faculty, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, Fall 2007 – current
Research Methods and Writing in Mass Communication (Graduate level)
            - Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative methods in Mass Communication research. 
            - Designing & implementing scientific research including intermediate statistics.
Essential Skills in Digital Media Literacy (Graduate level)
            - How to effectively create, access, analyze, and evaluate digital media.
            - Applying the latest innovations in media literacy theory and digital skills for a Web 2.0 world. 

Faculty, Salzburg Academy, Salzburg, Austria, July 29-August 19, 2007
A summer academy created by the Salzburg Global Seminar and ICMPA (University of Maryland) 
            - Taught sessions and moderated discussions on Global Media Literacy, Terrorism and Climate Change. 
            - Spent three weeks with 80 faculty and students from around the world developing curricula and concepts.  

Visiting Faculty, Towson University, Towson, MD, Spring 2004 – Fall 2008 
Research Methods in Mass Communication (Spring/Fall 2004/2005/2006) (Undergraduate level)
            - Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative methods in Mass Communication research. 
            - Designing & implementing scientific research including basic statistics and SPSS.
Media and Society (Spring 2006) (Undergraduate level)
            - Introduction to theories of media effects on society; Representation of race, gender, sexual orientation.
            - The business, culture, and politics of media institutions and their impact on society.
Using Information Effectively in Mass Communication (Spring 2004/2005) (Undergraduate level)
            - Developing media literacy skills by critically understanding media institutions, cultures and structures.
            - Developing an understanding of media messages in local, national and international contexts.
            - Understanding and utilizing new media technology, accessing and using information effectively.
Media Literacy (Spring/Fall 2005/2006) (Undergraduate level)
           - Analyzing the information, values and underlying messages conveyed via the different mass media
           - Exploring how media messages shape views of politics, culture and society
Media Coverage of War, Conflict and Terrorism (Summer/Winter 2007) (Undergraduate level)
            - A seminar covering the way the news media cover the world, especially news of war, conflict & terrorism.
            - Understanding the limitations, failures and successes of international media coverage.

Faculty Researcher & Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, Fall 2003 - Spring 2006
Guest Lectured for several other courses on various topics, including: Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods in Mass Communication, SPSS for Mass Communication, International Media, Intercultural Communication, Arab Media, Coverage of War, Conflict & Disasters.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Kent State University, Journalism & Mass Communication, 1999-2001
Non linear Editing
           - Trained and supervised students on nonlinear editing systems. 
           - Assisted Dr. Stanley Wearden & Dr. Gary Hanson in a research project on broadcast news. 

WORK EXPERIENCE: MEDIA MANAGER AND JOURNALIST

Faculty Research Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2006 - current
- Working as Research Director of the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda.
- See "Current Job Titles" above.  

Field Producer, Yahoo! News, 2006-2007 (hotzone.yahoo.com/)
- Covered the Lebanon-Israel war with Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone, a multimedia news project launched by Yahoo!
- Conducted interviews produced/dispatched news stories, photos and video from the war zones.
- Latest story: http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs23989 

Project Manager, the Salzburg Seminar, Jan-April 2006
- High-level planning and administration of a one-day workshop in Washington, DC.
- The workshop invited top media professionals & scholars to help craft the direction of the center's interest in media  

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2003 - 2005
- Managing AASFE.org's web site for the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors  

News Producer, WTVR, CBS Affiliate, Richmond VA, 2001- 2003
- Managed and Produced the morning and noon newscasts in a metered market (58th market)
- Attended editorial meetings, chose stories, monitored wires and coordinated network communication.
- Generated rundowns, wrote scripts using AP News Center.
- Managed a production team, three live trucks, three anchors and two reporters from the Control Room.  

News Producer (weekend), Abu-Dhabi TV, Washington DC Bureau, Sept 2001- June 2002
- Produced 20-minute live segments as part of a national newscast sent to Abu Dhabi via Satellite.
- Researched national and international news, coordinated communication, translated news and wrote Arabic scripts.
- Managed a 6-person production team and one reporter during the live Satellite segment. 

Graduate Assistant, Kent State, Journalism & Mass Communication, Jan 1999 - June 2001
- Assisted in managing the Platypus Videographer Workshop 2000 along with Dirck Halstead and Rolf Behrens .
- Managed and maintained the nonlinear video editing lab systems.
- Developed CD-ROM and video streaming projects - The May 4th, 1970, shooting commemoration at Kent State.
- Wrote weekly columns for the Daily Kent Stater.

Master's Final Project, Nightline, ABCNEWS, Jan-June 2001
- Researched and presented a redesigned model for Nightline's Web site.
- Worked with Executive Producer Tom Bettag and Senior Producer Richard Harris on the project.

 Production Staff, WHV (White House Video), Washington DC, summer 2000
- Live technical directing ( Grass Valley Switchers), AD, CG, sound, camera, teleprompter and video editing.
- Designed and executed a public relations campaign for the studio.
- Assisted in field news coverage, control room operations and satellite down-link connection. 

Multimedia Producer/Web Designer, The Digital Journalist, Washington DC, summer 2000
- Redesigned the Digital Journalist's Web site using DreamWeaver and Flash.
- Offered consultation and training to the Digital Journalists' staff on new software for Web designing  

Associate Producer/Editor, LBCSAT (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation SAT), 1997-1998
- Assisted in the production of the evening and afternoon newscast
- Edited and produced news packages, voiceovers and other news sound bites, (linear and nonlinear editing)
- Pulled & reviewed feeds & archives for noon & evening newscasts, coordinated tapes for on-air playback.

RESEARCH AND CONFERENCE PAPERS:

Published
Television News and the State in Lebanon (Dissertation), Spring 2008.
- A study that advances a new theoretical perspective and model for understanding the news media as an integral part of the state and not a separate entity, though its apparent separation is one of the critical factors that generates power and serves the interests of the political elite in Lebanon. 

"Covering War" by Jad Melki & Susan Moeller, Analyzing coverage of the summer 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, International Center for Media & the Public Agenda, University of Maryland,
http://icmpa.umd.edu/pages/studies/hezbollah_israel_war/z_main.html July 30, 2007.

 "Media Transparency" by Susan Moeller & Jad Melki, A Study of transparency in Global Media Outlets,
International Center for Media & the Public Agenda, University of Maryland, http://icmpa.umd.edu/pages/studies/transparency/main.html June 12, 2007.

"RSS" by Susan Moeller & Jad Melki, International News and Problems with the News Media’s RSS Feeds, International Center for Media & the Public Agenda, University of Maryland, http://icmpa.umd.edu/pages/studies/rss_study_details/rss_study.html May 2, 2007.

“Troops” by Jad Melki & Herbert McConnell, Political Advertising Resource Center,
Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, University of Maryland, Sept. 28, 2004.

“Medicare Hypocrisy” by Jad Melki & Herbert McConnell, Political Advertising Resource Center,
Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, University of Maryland, Sept. 24, 2004.  

“Searching” by Jad Melki & Herbert McConnell, Political Advertising Resource Center,
Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, University of Maryland, Oct. 6, 2004

“Global Test” by Jad Melki & Herbert McConnell, Political Advertising Resource Center,
Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, University of Maryland, Nov. 11, 2004.  

“War on Terror Agenda” by Jad Melki & Herbert McConnell, Political Advertising Resource Center,
Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, University of Maryland, Oct. 18, 2004.

Pending Publication:

Media Education and Trauma Journalism in the U.S.A., by the DART center and ICMPA.
- A study of accredited U.S. journalism schools to determine whether and how they teach trauma journalism.
- Aimed to generate a status report on the state of journalism education in regards to trauma and violence.
- To be released by DART and ICMPA by May 2008.
- To be presented at the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma (February 10, 2008).  

Media as a weapon of guerilla warfare: Hezbollah's use of media in the Lebanon-Israel war of summer 2006.
- A study analyzing Hezbollah's media strategies during its war with Israel in summer 2006.  

Media Studies at Lebanese Universities.
- A descriptive study analyzing media studies departments, students and curricula at Lebanese universities.
- A Q methodology study of Lebanese Media Studies faculty & their various approaches & curricula.  

Global Media Coverage of the Hezbollah-Israel War of Summer 2006.
- A 3 year project that content analyzed newspapers, TV newscasts and Blogs from around the world.

Conference Papers, Invited Lectures & Workshops:

Strengthening Independent Media: Setting a long-term agenda for global media development.
- Participant, Salzburg Global Seminar, Salzburg, Austria Oct. 2-7, 2008.

Education and Covering Trauma, Conflict and Terrorism.
- Presented at the Media, War and Conflict Resolution Conference at BGSU, September 17-19, 2008.

Coverage of the Hezbollah-Israel war of Summer 2006. 
-  Presented at the Media, War and Conflict Resolution Conference at BGSU, September 17-19, 2008. 

Media Strategies in Crisis Management.
- Presented at The Second International Symposium in Crisis Management in Public Relations,
Public Relations Research Institute, Tehran, Iran, December 3, 2006.

Modern Propaganda and Crisis Management.
- Presented at The Second International Symposium in Crisis Management in Public Relations,
Public Relations Research Institute, Tehran, Iran, December 3, 2006.

Media as a weapon of guerilla warfare: Hezbollah's use of media in the Lebanon-Israel war of summer 2006.
- Presented at the SAGE Conference for Media, War, and Conflict, April 2007.

Media Coverage of World News: An Obstacle to Conflict Resolution?
- Presented at the Conference for Rethinking Conflict, Integrating the Global & the Local.
- An International Fulbright Workshop on conflict & conflict resolution, UMD, April 7-11, 2005. 

Media Studies at Lebanese Universities.
- Presented at the 2006 AEJMC Midwinter Conference, Feb 2006.

Paradigms of Media Studies and Democracy in Lebanon.
- Presented at the 2006 AEJMC Midwinter Conference, Feb 2006.  

Journalism, Objectivity and the Coverage of War.
- Delivered at the Salzburg Seminar's Summer Program, Salzburg, Austria, August 10, 2006.  

Propaganda Techniques used in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Presented at the Nahda Workshop on Media in Lebanon, summer 2005. 

Works in Progress:

National and International Media systems, by Ray Hiebert.
- Due August, 2010.
- Two chapters in a book analyzing the political-economy of national media institutions around the world.
- The first chapter covers the media in Lebanon. The second chapter deals with Syria.  

Exploring Mass Media for a Changing World, by Ray Hiebert. 
- Due August 2010. 
- A Second edition to this textbook which will adopt theories and techniques of Media Literacy.

Propaganda Techniques in Videos & Documentaries about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, by Jad Melki
- Presented at the Nahda Workshop on Media in Lebanon, summer 2005.
- Analyzing propaganda techniques in videos & documentaries addressing the Israeli-Palestinians conflict.

LATEST NEWS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS:

 Sites, K. (2007). In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars. Harper Perennial (Pap/DVD ed.).
- Book Cover Photo.
- Video and photos for the DVD. 

The Hot Zone, Yahoo! News: (hotzone.yahoo.com)
- Revisiting Bint Jbail:
http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs23989

- Lebanon Diary, Holding a Rock:
http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs8825

- Out of the Rubble:
http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs8044

Other:
- ICMPA: The Lebanon-Israel War: Media Lessons, Military Opportunities (icmpa.umd.edu):
http://www.icmpa.umd.edu/pages/events/kevin_sites.htm