AZHAR IQBAL
Ph.D. Candidate & Graduate Teaching Assistant
William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Contact Information
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
Expected in May 2026
Dissertation Title: Digital Advertising and Mental Health of Gen Z
M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations
Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
2018
M.Sc. in Communication Studies
University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
2016
RESEARCH INTERESTS
TEACHING INTERESTS
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Lecturer
William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Kansas, United States
Summer 2024 & Summer 2025Graduate Teaching Assistant
William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Kansas, United States
2023 – PresentLecturer
School of Media & Communication Studies
University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
2019 – 2023Lecturer
Department of Mass Communication
Lahore Leads University, Pakistan
2018 – 2019Teaching Assistant
Institute of Public Administration and Entrepreneurship
Ural Federal University, Russia
2017-2018INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Co-Founder & Correspondent
2014 – 2016- Organized educational events and arranged Media Coverage
- Worked on Publishing Press Releases from Public and Private Universities
Presenter & Newscaster
PU FM 104.6, Lahore, Pakistan
2013 – 2014- Worked on Promotional News, Packages for University Events and Activities
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
AWARDS & HONORS
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES (PUBLISHED)
1. Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Morales, O., Izhar, N., Chaif, R., Coelho, M. B., Ha, H., Jona, B., Iqbal, A. & Doyle, T. (2025). Between likes and lies: How teenage girls navigate online health information. Frontiers in Communication. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1692428
2. Seo, H., da Silva, M. P., Jona, B., Iqbal, A., Burkett, K. M., Khan, H. U., & Urbina Carreno, A. E. (2025). Comparative analysis of AI attitudes among JMC students in Brazil and the US: A mixed-methods approach. Online Media and Global Communication, 4(2), 187-215. https://doi.org/10.1515/omgc-2024-0060
3. Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Okocha, M., Ha, H., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., Coelho, M., Jona, B., & Iqbal, A. (2025). Social media activism and women's health: Endometriosis awareness and support. Digital Health, 11, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251314905
4. Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., Arif, R., Ala-Uddin, M., Ahmad, T., & Iqbal, A. (2025). Global news media coverage of artificial intelligence (AI): A comparative analysis of frames, sentiments, and trends across 12 countries. Telematics and Informatics, 96, 102223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2024.102223
5. Seo, H., Iqbal, A., & Rafique, S. (2024). Attitudes toward AI, AI self-efficacy, and AI adoption: A survey of media students in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Studies in Media, Journalism, and Communications, 2(2), 22-30. https://doi.org/10.32996/smjc.2024.2.2.4
6. Jamil, S., Iqbal, A., Ittefaq, M., & Kamboh, S. A. (2022). Building a media literate society: Pathways to improve media and information literacy education in Pakistan. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 77(4), 414-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958221125358
7. Ittefaq, M., Ahmad Kamboh, S., Iqbal, A., Iftikhar, U., Abwao, M., & Arif, R. (2023). Understanding public reactions to state security officials' suicide cases in online news comments. Death studies, 47(4), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2022.2101074
8. Ittefaq, M., Ejaz, W., Jamil, S., Iqbal, A., & Arif, R. (2023). Discriminated in society and marginalized in media: Social representation of Christian sanitation workers in Pakistan. Journalism Practice, 17(1), 66-84. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1939103
9. Ittefaq, M., & Iqbal, A. (2018). Digitization of the health sector in Pakistan: challenges and opportunities to online health communication: A case study of MARHAM social and mobile media. Digital Health, 4, 2055207618789281. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207618789281
JOURNAL ARTICLES SUBMITTED/UNDER REVIEW
1. Iqbal, A., Rafique, S., Jona, B. T., & Seo, H. (2025). GenAI in Mass Communication Education: Interviews with Instructors.
2. Diwanji, V., Burkett, K. M., Chaif, R. H., Iqbal, A., Coelho, M., & Wiley, T. (2025). Breaking the mold: The impact of gamification and disability representation in virtual influencers.
3. Iqbal, A., Rafique, S. (2025). Advertising Education in the Digital Era: A Perspective of Mass Communication Professors.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
1. Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Morales, O., Izhar, N., Chaif, R. H., Coelho, M., Ha, H., Jona, B., Iqbal, A., & Doyle, T. (2025, August). Teenage girls and digital health: Navigating health misinformation on social media. Paper accepted at AEJMC, San Francisco, CA. (Top Faculty Paper)
2. Seo, H., Burkett, K. M., Okocha, M., Ha, H., Chaif, R., Izhar, N., Barros, M., Jona, B., & Iqbal, A. (August 2024). Social media activism and women's health: Endometriosis as feminist issue. AEJMC Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA. Second-place Top Faculty Paper
3. Diwanji, V., Burkett, K. M., Chaif, R. H., Iqbal, A., Coelho, M., & Wiley, T. (2025, August). Breaking the mold: The impact of gamification and disability representation in virtual influencer advertising. Paper to be presented at AEJMC Annual Conference, San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, CA.
4. Seo, H., da Silva, M. P., Jona, B., Iqbal, A., Burkett, K. M., Khan, H. U., & Urbina Carreno, A. E. (August 2024). Comparative analysis of AI attitudes among JMC students in Brazil and the US. AEJMC Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
5. Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., Khan, M. L., Ahmad, T., Iqbal, A., Ala-Uddin, M. (July 2024). Global news media coverage of artificial intelligence: A comparative analysis of trends, topics, and sentiments across 12 countries. IAMCR Annual Conference, 30 June – 04 July 2024.
6. Ittefaq, M., Kamboh, S. A., Iqbal, A., Iftikhar, U., Abwao, M., & Arif, R. (August 2021). Understanding public reaction to celebrity suicide cases in online news comments. AEJMC Virtual Conference, New Orleans, USA.
7. Olkhovikov, K., & Iqbal, A. (2018). Educating the teachers by new media: Challenges and facilities to online education; A case of TeachHub. Paper presented at the 10th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Palma, Spain. IATED.
8. Olkhovikov, K., & Iqbal, A. (2018). The power of social media in modern education. Paper presented at the 12th International Technology, Education and Development Conference, Valencia, Spain. IATED.
9. Iqbal, A. (2017). Use of social media to promote national culture worldwide. Strategies for social networks, institutions and territory. T. 1.—Екатеринбург, 2017, 1 (3), 327-329.
COURSES TAUGHT – INSTRUCTOR OF RECORD/ LECTURER
University of Kansas (2023–Present)
University of Management & Technology (2019–2023)
Lahore Leads University (2018–2019)
Ural Federal University (2017–2018)
ADVERTISING AND PR CAMPAIGNS (Selected Supervised Projects)
TV Commercial – Carpe Diem (Fragrance)
View on YouTubeDigital Campaign – Looks N Styles (A salon and message center)
View on YouTubeTVC – Power Shot (Energy Drink)
View on YouTubeDigital Ad Campaign for Itemad.pk (an online shopping App)
View on YouTubeVideo Ad Campaign – Edinburg Watches
View on YouTubeAdvertising Campaign for Zaidi Estate
View on YouTubePublic Service Message by Mighty Minds
View on YouTubeTVC – Amrat Honey
View on YouTubeSELECTED INTERNATIONAL TALKS & FORUMS
WORKSHOPS & GUEST LECTURES ORGANIZED/MODERATED
"Publishing in Global South: How to Publish in Impact Factor
Journals?"
Speaker:
Dr. Muhammad Ittefaq (USA)
Date:
June 3, 2022
"The Art of Voice-over and Urdu Accent"
Speaker:
Safdar Ali (PTV, Pakistan)
Date:
April 5, 2022
"Islam, Liberalism and Human Rights"
Speaker:
Justice (R) Nazeer Ahmed Ghazi (24 News)
Date:
March 31, 2022
"The World of Animations"
Speaker:
Syed Fakher Hussain Rizvi (Geo News)
Date:
March 21, 2022
"PR and The Rise of Marketing Communication"
Speaker:
Ken Kelling (United Kingdom)
Date:
January 25, 2022 (Online Session)
"How to Prepare a Proposal for PR Campaign?"
Speaker:
Dr. Peter J. Sos (Hungary)
Date:
June 3, 2021 (Online Session)
"Advertising Approaches in the Digital World"
Speaker:
Brendan Sanders (Australia)
Date:
May 27, 2021 (Online Session)
"Academic Writing in Mass Media"
Speaker:
Dr. Sadia Jamil (United Arab Emirates)
Date:
May 21, 2021 (Online Session)
"How to Launch an International PR Campaign?"
Speaker:
Olga Novesolova (Russia)
Date:
May 10, 2021 (Online Session)
"Film Media in the Subcontinent: Roots and Development"
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Rajesh Kochhar (India)
Date:
May 3, 2021 (Online Session)
"Writing Skills for Broadcast Media"
Speaker:
Mr. Pan Liu (China)
Date:
April 23, 2021 (Online Session)
SELECTED JOURNALISTIC ARTICLES & OP-EDS (International)
ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE EDUCATIONIST (Pakistan)
Iqbal, A. (2017). "Europe follows plan-oriented studies: Dr. Janos" View
Iqbal, A. (August 2017). "Build universities, instead of spending on military" — Mr. Alexey Kluev. View
Iqbal, A. & Ittefaq, M. (August 2016). "Pak, India govts. must allow academic collaboration"
Ittefaq, M. & Iqbal, A. (June 2016). "PU Chandigarh tennis coach wants good ties with Pakistan" View
Iqbal, A. (March 2016). "Catholic schools, a symbol of the Christian-Muslim solidarity" View
ACADEMIC REFERENCES
Dr. Hyunjin Seo
University Distinguished Professor & Oscar Stauffer Chair
Former Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development
William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Kansas
Dr. Vaibhav Diwanji
Assistant Professor
William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Kansas
Dr. Jeffrey Conlin
Assistant Professor
William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Kansas, Kansas