Sawsan Taha, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Al Ain Campus

+971 3 7024977

sawsan.taha@aau.ac.ae

Biography

With over twenty years steeped in the media domain, Dr. Sawsan Taha has carved a multifaceted career, seamlessly transitioning through roles as diverse as a broadcasting journalist within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) landscape, to media consultant, trainer, researcher, and project manager. Over the last ten years, her primary engagement has been with the academic world, donning the hat of an educator, elucidating complex topics of media and communication to scholars. Numerous academic institutions have benefitted from her sagacious insights as she assumed the role of a visiting lecturer.

Now, at the College of Media and Communication at Al Ain University in the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Taha holds the title of Assistant Professor. Here, she shapes the minds of undergraduate students, fervently contributes to the strategic undertakings and endeavors of the college, and shoulders pivotal administrative tasks. Beyond the confines of a mere academic, Dr. Taha emerges as a mentor, cultivating within her pupils a profound sense of professional ethos, urging them to morph into journalists and communicators who are acutely aware of their indispensable role and accountability to the larger societal tapestry.

 

Education

PhD degree in Screening Media Studies. Brunel University London.UK

Master degree in International Political Studies. Birzeit University. Palestine

BA in Broadcasting Media (TV and Radio production) from Birzeit university Palestine

Research Interests

Dr. Sawsan's scholarly pursuits predominantly lie within the realm of media and communication, with an emphasis on the evolving media technology landscape and the emergent paradigms of digital media. She delves into the multifaceted dimensions of how technological advancements have revolutionized our modes of communication, media consumption patterns, and interpersonal interactions. Given the rapid pace of technological innovation, it's imperative for academics to remain au courant with the newest shifts and disruptions to comprehend their societal ramifications. A notable sub-discipline within her purview concerns digital media, encompassing an analytical look at the interaction and consumption behaviors related to platforms like social media, video streaming, and digital news platforms. Moreover, she scrutinizes the repercussions of digital media on conventional media channels such as television and print.

Simultaneously, another salient research facet for Dr. Sawsan is the metamorphic influence of technology on communication dynamics. She has penned scholarly articles exploring novel mediums of communication, including the role of augmented reality within pedagogical frameworks. These writings often shed light on the transformative effects such communication mediums exert on interpersonal relations, social dynamics, and our information assimilation capacities. The research also provides insights into the evolving nature of workplace communication, further examining its bearing on business operations.

The third strand of Dr. Sawsan's research is concerned with the technological repercussions on the media sector. She investigates how media production, distribution, and consumption modalities are being reshaped by technology. An imminent exploration she's undertaking concerns the influence of immersive technologies, like virtual and augmented reality, on media consumption experiences and monetization strategies. Furthermore, she's keenly interested in discerning how technological advancements might be reconfiguring the operational strategies of media-centric academic institutions and, concomitantly, the professional landscape for media aspirants.

Lastly, Dr. Taha's research compass also directs towards the assimilation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within tertiary education frameworks. She advocates for the pivotal role that universities can play in bolstering SDGs, be it through pathbreaking research, innovative pedagogical methods, or impactful community engagement. For instance, tertiary institutions can helm research initiatives addressing the multifarious challenges underpinning sustainable development, ranging from climate crises to socio-economic disparities. Integrating sustainability-centric modules within academic curricula can empower students with the requisite acumen to champion sustainability agendas. Beyond the confines of academic campuses, universities can also collaborate with civic bodies, industries, and government agencies to amplify sustainability awareness, ideate sustainable resolutions, and institutionalize sustainable policies.

 

Selected Publications

 

Conferences

  • Arab Media Congers, Abu Dhabi 2022
  • Media Participation During Covid 19 Pandemic. Virtual Conference. Thomson Foundation, London 2020.   
  • Transformation to Digital Media in Palestine, Virtual conference. 2019.
  • Arab Media and Political conflicts, Brunel University Annual Student conference. 2015.
  • Arab Media and the Palestinian Internal Conflict, Arab British Society Conference 2016. 
  • Arab Broadcasting Media and the Arab spring, the Saudi students club 2013.
  • Media and Refugees Studies, League of Arab State in Egypt. 2006

Professional Experience

 2020-2021: Researcher and Media Consultant. (Consultancy Positions)

Responsibilities:

  • Consultant for research projects related to the Middle East.
  • Provide high quality of social science research both quantitative and qualitative.
  • Facilitate and run training courses and research activities both face to face and online.
  • Provide Monitoring and Evaluation for research projects.
  • Research proposals and reports design and writing.
  • Supervisor and academic advisor for postgraduate student’s projects.

2018-2020: Visiting Lecturer at the Departments of Media and Communications at the Arab American University and the Institute for Media Studies at Al-Quds University in Palestine.

Responsibilities:

  • Lecturer in Mass Media (TV and Radio) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
  • Academic advisor for courses design and curriculum development in Mass Media (TV and Radio Journalism)
  • Provide support and evaluation for research activities.
  • Examiner and evaluator for students’ research projects.

2014- 2020: Consultant and Researcher at Thomson Foundation ( Part Time). London UK

Responsibilities:

  • Facilitate and run media training programs for the GCC.
  • Media Trainer in TV and Radio production, news reporting and storytelling.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with new and existing clients.
  • Conduct training needs assessment for project’s start-ups.
  • Media researcher on Arab media, both quantitative and qualitative.
  • Assist with the Monitoring and Evaluation process for the training courses.

 

2016– 2017: Media Coordinator and Academic Advisor at the London Training of Excellence. London, UK

Responsibilities:

  • Managing media research for various organizations.
  • Provide Academic consultancy and advice for students from the Middle East.
  • Provide support and strategic communications for projects related to the Middle East.
  • Run and facilitate training projects, media research, communications and radio journalism.
  • Trainer in Radio Journalism, Conflict reporting and Storytelling.

 

2013-2017: PhD Researcher and Professor Assistant at the Department of Media and Communions at Brunel University London, UK.

Responsibilities:

  • PhD Researcher in Arab media and internal conflicts.
  • Representative of the PhD students.
  • Teaching assistant in radio journalism, media research methodology and international journalism.
  • Evaluate and grade student’s assignments and papers.
  • Initiate, facilitate and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Academic advisor for new postgraduate students from the Middle East.

2012-2014: Project Manager and Leading Trainer at Crisis Projects. London, UK

Responsibilities:

  • Project manager and consultant for the Syrian training program.
  • Provide and manage the external communications for the training projects.
    • Networking with Arab and foreign journalists and with local and international media organizations in the MENA region.
    • Consultant for projects in Palestine, Jordan, Libya, Iraq and Egypt.
    • Providing support to local media organisations in the Arab world for media project activities.

2008- 2009: Assistant Director and Researcher at the Institute for International Political Studies at Birzet University, Palestine

Responsibilities:

  • Organize local and international seminars, conferences and workshops sponsored by the Institute.
  • Researcher in Media and Refugees Studies.
  • Manage the Institute internal and external communications.
  • Coordinator for institutes publications; books and academic papers.

2002-2006: Lecturer at the Media Institute at Birzet University, Palestine

Responsibilities:

  • Lecturer in Mass Media including TV and Radio Investigative Journalism, news reporting and storytelling, Radio Production.
  • Academic Adviser for undergraduate students.
  • Assist in the monitoring and evaluation process for the department.
  • Organized seminars, international conferences and workshops.
  • Represented the institute in local and international events.

2001-2009: Broadcast Journalist at the Palestinian Broadcasting Cooperation – Palestine. In Palestine TV:

  • Ø TV news presenter.
  • Ø News correspondent.
  • Ø Editor.

In Voice of Palestine radio:

  • Radio Presenter.

Teaching Courses

  • Writing for Digital Journalism
  • News Editing for Digital Journalism
  • Mass Media in UAE
  • Media Eithers and Regulation
  • Online Journalism Campaign
  • Public Relations and Social Media
  • Etiquette and Protocol
  • Mass Media Theories
  • Introduction to Mass Media and Communication
  • Introduction to Traditional and Digital Journalism
  • Media Methodology
  • Media and Sensitive Reporting
  • International Journalism
  • TV and Radio News Production
  • Journalism Layout and Design
  • Art of Diction
  •  Radio Investigation and Storytelling

 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  

 

Memberships

Member of the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate in Palestine.

Member of Thomson Foundation Consultant Board in London.

Member of the Arab British Scarcity in London