Azhar Iqbal

Azhar Iqbal is a Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. He received his master’s in Advertising and Public Relations from Ural Federal University, Russia, and a master’s in Communication Studies from the Institute of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Pakistan.

Before beginning his doctoral journey, Azhar practiced as a journalist and served as a reporter for an English newspaper in Pakistan. His journalistic work has appeared in The Educationist,which he co-founded Maeeshat Media (India), Our Russia, and the Society of Professional Journalists (USA). He later transitioned into academia, teaching for five years as a Lecturer of Mass Communication at both public and private universities in Pakistan. During this period, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in advertising, public relations, copywriting, and broadcast media, and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles.

At KU, his research focuses on health communication, advertising, digital media, and the role of artificial intelligence in education. His Ph.D. dissertation, “Digital Advertising and Mental Health among Gen Z,” examines how exposure to fitness-related advertising on social media affects young adults’ mental health.

Azhar’s scholarly work has been published in leading journals, including Digital Health, Journalism Practice, Telematics and Informatics, and Journalism & Mass Communication Educator. A recipient of the Robert P. Sigman Scholarship, EOF Journalism Scholarship, and William Allen White Graduate Scholarship, he has presented award-winning research at international conferences such as AEJMC and IAMCR.

He has also delivered guest lectures and keynote talks in Afghanistan, India, Hungary, and Pakistan on topics in public relations, digital journalism and artificial intelligence. Azhar is an active member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and serves on the Board of Studies for Advertising and Public Relations at the University of the Punjab.