- Schapals, A.K. and Harb, Z. (2022). “Everything Has Changed, and Nothing Has Changed in Journalism”: Revisiting Journalistic Sourcing Practices and Verification Techniques during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and Beyond. Digital Journalism, 10(7), pp. 1219–1237. doi:10.1080/21670811.2020.1856702.
- Harb, Z. (2019). Challenges facing Arab journalism, freedom, safety and economic security. Journalism, 20(1), pp. 110–113. doi:10.1177/1464884918807356.
- Harb, Z. (2012). Arab Media. Journalism Practice, 6(3), pp. 426–427. doi:10.1080/17512786.2011.650886.
- Harb, Z. (2012). Review of John Mair and Richard Keeble book Mirage in the Dessert? Reporting the ‘Arab Spring’. Ethical Space: the international journal of communication ethics, 9(1), pp. 60–61.
- Harb, Z. (2011). Arab Revolutions and the Social Media Effect. Media and Culture Journal, 14(2).
- Harb, Z. (2009). Aiming at liberation: Al-Manar media campaigns against the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon (1998-2000). Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, 2(1), pp. 51–75.
- Harb, Z. (2009). The July 2006 War and the Lebanese blogsphere: towards an alternative media tool in covering wars. Journal of Media Practice, 10(2-3), pp. 255–258.
- Harb, Z. (2008). Covering the Qana 'Massacre' 1996: A case of contextual objectivity. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, 1(2), pp. 138–155.
- Harb, Z. and Bessaiso, E. (2006). British Arab Muslim audiences and television after September 11. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 32(6), pp. 1063–1076.
- Harb, Z. (2006). Review of Naomi Sakr’s edited book ‘Women and media in the Middle East: power through self-expression’. Social Semiotics, 16(2), pp. 390–393.
- Harb, Z. (2005). Review of Nicholas Jackson O’Shaughnessy’s book ‘Politics and Propaganda Weapons of Mass Seduction’. Political Communication: an international journal, 1(3), pp. 325–335.
- Harb, Z. (2004). Review of Eytan Gilboa’s book, ‘Media and Conflict’. Media Culture and Society, 26(4), pp. 591–595.
Dr Zahera Harb
Contact details
Address
Dr Zahera Harb
AG38,
College Building [A]
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
About
Overview
Dr Zahera Harb is director of MA International Journalism and MA Media and Globalisation (Erasmus Mundus) programs. Her publications include an edited collection titled “Reporting the Middle East: the Practice of News in the 21st Century” (IB Tauris 2017) and an edited collection with Dina Matar titled “Narrating Conflict in the Middle East: Discourse, Image and Communication Practices in Palestine and Lebanon” (IB Tauris 2013) and a monograph titled “Channels of Resistance: Liberation Propaganda Hezbollah and the Media“ (IB Tauris, 2011). She has published widely on Journalism and Politics in the Arab region. She is co-editor of Bloomsbury-IB Tauris book series on “Political Communication and Media Practices in the Middle East and North Africa”. She is co-editor of Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication. She is Associate editor of the internationally renowned top ranking academic journal Journalism Practice.
Dr Harb has more than 11 years’ experience as a journalist in her native country Lebanon working for Lebanese and international media organisations. She started as a news reporter and distinguished herself in particular in the coverage of war operations in the battlefield of South Lebanon. She was then co-producer and presenter of a popular socio-political programme (Khamseh Ala Sabaah, 5/7) before becoming one of the main news anchors at Tele Liban (the public service TV in Lebanon). At New TV she was appointed to a news anchor-editor post and hosted the main daily political show (Al Hadath). At Future TV (Pan Arab satellite channel) she produced and presented her own socio-political program (Ala Madar Assaa) while assigned as satellite news editor. She also produced several political and social documentaries for Lebanese TV stations and completed reporting assignments for BBC Arabic service (radio), CNN world report and Dutch TV. She hosted live coverage of distinguished political events inside and outside Lebanon. She contributed regularly to the Lebanese national daily Assafir. She contributes to Aljazeera English online opinion section and other Arab publications.
Dr Harb was trained in Holland and the UK and has a BA in Journalism from the Lebanese University, a Diploma in Broadcasting News and an MA and PhD in Journalism Studies and Political Communications from Cardiff University.
Dr Harb has been aapionted board member of the UK Press Recognition Panel in Septemebr 2022. She previously served as member to the UK broadcast regulator Ofcom content board between December 2015 and December 2018. She is board member/trustee of Dart Centre Europe for Journalism and Trauma and MArie Colvin Journalists Network. She served as board member/trustee of Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) between 2015 and 2022.
She has been coorporating with Thomson Foundation UK since 2007 conducting media and journalism training in the UK and other parts of the world including Egypt, Malta, Spain, Armenia, Ukraine, Brussels, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. She has led workshops with senior Journalists from across the Caribbean and Asia Pacific in collaboration with Public Media Alliance and EJN. She has also done media consultancy work for International Media Support (IMS).
Dr Harb has been commended by City University London Vice Chancellor's Awards 2014 in recognition of Excellence in International Engagement.
She was finalist for Asian Women of Achievement 2018 Award.
She was named Stanford University Humanities Centre International Fellow for 2014.
An interview with Arab media scholar Zahera Harb, Stanford Humanities Center
Qualifications
- PhD, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, 2008
- MA, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, 2000
- Diploma in Broadcasting News, Thomson Foundation/Cardiff School of Journalism, United Kingdom, Jun – Sep 1996
- Broadcast News Skills, BBC/Radio Nederlands, Netherlands, Jun – Jul 1995
- BA, Lebanese University, Lebanon, 1993
Postgraduate training
- PCHE-15 credits, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, Sep 2010
- Small group teaching/leading Seminars, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom, Sep 2002
Employment
- Lecturer, University of Nottingham, Oct 2007 – Oct 2011
- Researcher, Cardiff University, May 2005 – May 2006
- Associate Tutor, Cardiff University, Jan 2005 – Jun 2007
Languages
Arabic (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review) and English (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review).
Expertise
Geographic Areas
- Middle East
Teaching
External Examining
University of Wales validated course at Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo, Egypt
BSc (Hons) in Mass Communication (with pathways in Journalism, Public Relations & Advertising and Radio & TV Broadcasting)
Present- Swansea University
MA Comparative Journalism
MA Journalism Media and Globalisation
2011-2015 New College Nottingham (degree validated by Nottingham Trent University)
BA in Digital Media
Foundation degree in Broadcast Media
2013- External verifier MA Comparative Journalism- Swansea University.
Modules taught at City University London
MAIJ Broadcast pathway leader
Convenor of
Global Journalism
Journalism and Conflict
Dissertation Module
Broadcast Journalism
Reporting the Middle East
Modules taught at Nottingham University
Writing for the Media
Global Media and Communication
Reporting the Middle East
Political Communication, PR and Propaganda
Middle East and the Media
Modules taught at Cardiff University
Reporting the Middle East
Production of News research studies workshops
Modules taught at Swansea University
Reporting the Middle East
Guest Lecturer
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Cardiff School of Journalism
Swansea University Media Department
De Montfort University Media Department
University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus
Research
Dr Harb research interests include Journalism cultures, war reporting, mediating conflict, representation of ethnic minorities, Journalism ethics, Citizen Jouranlism and social media and politics.
Dr Harb has taken part in three main research projects since 2002: the perception of news after September 11, the embedded reporting of the 2003 Iraq war, and immigration and inclusion in south east Wales in 2008.
Research students
Aurora Herrera
Attendance: Oct 2016 – present
Thesis title: Defamation law in Trinidad and Tobago and its affects on journalism practices
Role: 1st Supervisor
Further information: PhD candidate
Aleksandra Raspopina
Attendance: Oct 2016 – present
Thesis title: RT: A Russian Viewpiont
Role: 1st Supervisor
Further information: PhD Candidate
Aljosha Karim Schapals
Thesis title: Sourcing Practices & Verification Challenges: A case study on journalistic decision-making processes by UK journalists during the 2011 Egyptian revolution
Role: 1st Supervisor
Further information: PhD
Birce Bora
Thesis title: Representation of Turkey in the British Print Media: To Be or not To Be European.
Role: 1st Supervisor
Further information: PhD
Taner Dogan
Thesis title: Communication Startegies of the AK Party in Turkey
Role: 1st Supervisor
Further information: PhD candidate
Publications
Publications by category
Books (3)
- Harb, Z. (2017). Reporting the Middle East: The Practice of News in the Twenty-First Century. Harb, Z. (Ed.), London: IB Tauris.
- Matar, D. and Harb, Z. (Eds.), (2013). Narrating Conflict in the Middle East. London: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-78076-103-9.
- Harb, Z. (2011). Channels of Resistance in Lebanon. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-120-7.
Chapters (11)
- Harb, Z. (2019). Covering Regional Conflicts in Arab News: Political Loyalties and Hate Speech. In Kelly, M., Footitt, H. and Salama-Carr, M. (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Languages and Conflict Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-030-04824-2.
- Harb, Z. (2019). After the Arab Revolts: social media and the journalist in Egypt. In Price, S. (Ed.), Journalism, Power and Investigation
Global and Activist Perspectives London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-74309-0. - Harb, Z. (2017). Reporting the Middle East, the Arab world and Islam. Reporting the Middle East, the Practice of News in the twenty-First Century (pp. 1–11). London: IB Tauris.
- Harb, Z. (2017). Reporting Lebanon: Orientalism as News Practice. Reporting the Middle East, the Practice of News in the Twenty-First Century (pp. 69–86). London: IB Tauris.
- Harb, Z. (2016). Hezbollah, Al-Manar and the Arab Revolts. Defiance or Survival? In Zayani, M. and Mirgani, S. (Eds.), Bullets and Bulletins, Media and Politics in the Wake of The Arab Uprisings Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-049155-0.
- Harb, Z. (2015). Antoine Choueiri: 'President' of Arab Advertising. Arab Media Moguls London: IB Tauris. ISBN 978-1-78076-732-1.
- Harb, Z. (2015). Al Manar and Hezbollah: Creative instances in Propaganda Warefare. Islamism and Cultural Expression in the Arab World (pp. 189–205). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-52184-0.
- Harb, Z. (2013). Mediating Internal Conflict in Lebanon and its Ethical Boundaries. In Matar, D. and Harb, Z. (Eds.), Narrating Conflict in the Middle East: Discourse, Image and Communication Practices in Lebanon and Palestine (pp. 38–57). London: IB Tauris.
- Harb, Z. (2012). Zahera Harb. No Woman’s Land: on the Frontlines with Female Reporters London, UK: International News Safety Institute.
- Harb, Z. (2009). "Grapes of Unity facing Grapes of Wrath": Objectivity and War Reporting. The Middle East in the Media: Conflicts, Censorship and Public Opinion London, UK: Saqi. ISBN 978-0-86356-658-5.
- In Iqani, M. and Resende, F. (Eds.), Media and the Global South. In Routledge India.
Journal articles (12)
Reports (2)
- Threadgold, T., Clifford, S., Harb, Z., Arwo, A., Powell, V., Jiang, X. … Jewell, J. (2008). Immigration and inclusion in south-east Wales. YPS York Publishing Services.
- Harb, Z. (2004). Too Close for Comfort? The Role of Embedded Reporting During the 2003 Iraq War. British Broadcasting Corporation.
Professional activities
Editorial activity (6)
- An internationally renowned and high ranking academic journal in the field of journalism practice., Associate Editor, Journalism Practice, Jan 2018 – present.
- Review editor of Journal of Media Practice.
- Member of Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication editorial board.
- Member of JOMEC Online Journal editorial Board.
- Member of Journal of Media Practice editorial board.
- Journalism, theory, practice and criticism Journal, Member of editorial board.
Media appearances (11)
- Al Jazeera English/ The Listening Post Program. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2015/01/reaction-charlie-hebdo-attack-20151109475501508.html
- Has the notion of Media as Fourth Estate collapsed? Hosted by anb (pan Arab TV channel) A'lamat Istifham (Question Marks) weekly show (In Arabic). You can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCgEyQLDH3E
- An interview with Arab media scholar Zahera Harb. Stanford University Humanities Centre youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiNVhqhhylM - Arab Media in discussion with Dr Zahera Harb/ anb channel. In Arabic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQy6m9wOdhI - BBC Arabic Freedom Day. In Arabic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=88fwSviYtKg&app=desktop - Arabology program interview with Dr Zahera Harb. KZSU Stanford 90.1FM
https://soundcloud.com/arabology/interview-with-dr-zahera-harb - Online is the new frontline for Syrian fighters/Channel 4 news. http://www.channel4.com/news/syria-youtube-jihad-weapons-videos-rebels-war-assad
- A war of words: Iraq ten years on. A war of words: Iraq ten years on
Dr Zahera Harb examines the language and rhetoric of the Iraq war for the BBC World Service.
http://www.city.ac.uk/news/2013/mar/a-war-of-words-iraq-ten-years-on
Arab media expert - Access Middle East: Part One- New Media/ CNBC Channel. CNBC Channel
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000128736#. - Women on the Front/ The Al-Majalah magazine. http://www.majalla.com/eng/2012/03/article55230145
- BBC Arabic contributor Seven Days press review weekly program.
Online articles (4)
- الصحافة اللبنانية وقضية زياد عيتاني: انتهاك لألف باء المهنة. (2018). Legal Agenda Lebanon
- A case of ethical neglect: How journalists failed Yazidi women. (2018). Al Jazeera English
- Can Wikitribune combat fake news? (2017). Al Jazeera English
- Times Higher Education book review. (2014). Times Higher Education THE Book review of Watching Arabic Television in Europe: From Diaspora to Hybrid Citizens, by Christina Slade
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/books/watching-arabic-television-in-europe-from-diaspora-to-hybrid-citizens-by-christina-slade/2015219.article
Other (8)
- Ofcom Content board member.
- Ethical Journalism Network Trustee/board member.
- Marie Colvin Journalists' Network steering group member.
- Chair of Women on the Move Media Award championing coverage of Refugee women and their struggles.
- Member of the Jury Royal Television Society Journalism Award.
- Reviewer for these journals and Academic publishers
Palgrave
Arab Studies center
Feminist Media Studies Journal
Journalism Practice Journal
Journal of Media Practice
International Journal of Media and Culture Politics
Journal of Children and Media
Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication
The international Journal of Press/Politics
Media War and Conflict
Digital Journalism
Journalism Practice
Journalism Studies. - Review Editor of Journal of Media Practice.
- Regular contributor on media analysis for Assafir newspaper in Lebanon.