Research

Muhammad Ittefaq has a diverse professional background in both journalism and strategic communication, which informs my research trajectory. Ittefaq’s research delves into the ways in which people consume and interact with information through new technologies, including how they interpret scientific messages, make decisions related to health and climate, and support policies related to science. He investigates how different segments of society are influenced by the information ecosystem and messages surrounding scientific issues, while also examining how organizations use various persuasive techniques on social media to engage with global science-related topics. In addition, Ittefaq examines the role of news media in bridging the gap between various stakeholders in public policy, including journalists, scientists, the public, civil society, and medical professionals. Through his research, he seeks to provide theoretical and practical insights that can help inform effective communication strategies for promoting public understanding of science and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

As a researcher, he employs a range of methods to investigate his research questions, drawing on quantitative, qualitative, and computational approaches. Quantitative methods such as surveys and content analysis enable him to collect and analyze large amounts of data efficiently, while qualitative methods such as textual analysis, in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis allow him to delve deeper into people’s experiences and perspectives. He also utilizes computational methods such as text mining, social network analysis, and sentiment analysis to analyze large datasets and identify patterns and trends that may be difficult to detect through other methods. By utilizing a variety of research methods, he aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex phenomena he investigates and to generate insights that can inform policy and practice.

I have published in a range of academic journals, including Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, Journalism Practice, Journal of Media Ethics, International Journal of Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Science Communication, Media International Australia, Convergence:The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, Vaccine, Vaccines, Digital Health, Health, Risk & Society, Psychology & Health, Third World Quarterly, Death Studies, American Journal of Health Education, Local Environment, Global Policy, First Monday, and Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. His research has also been presented at numerous international, national, and regional, conferences providing opportunities for dissemination and engagement with other scholars in the field. In addition to his academic work, he has also contributed to journalistic outlets such as the Society of Professional Journalists, The News International, The News on Sunday, Global Policy, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, and The Educationist, demonstrating his commitment to both research and practice. A list of his peer-reviewed publications is provided below.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  1. Kamboh, S.A., Ittefaq, M., & Marwat, K.S., & Hameed, A. (Accepted for publication). Ethnic Newspaper Industry in Pakistan and Corporate Ownership. South Asia Research.
  2. Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., & Bokhari, H. (2023). Opioids in Satirical News Shows: Exploring Topics, Sentiments, and Engagement in Last Week Tonight on YouTube. Journal of Health Communication, 28(1), 53-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2023.2176575
  3. Seo, H., Liu, Y., Ebrahim, H., Ittefaq, M., & Chung, D. (2023). The COVID-19 pandemic and international students: A mixed-methods approach to relationships between social media use, social support, and mental health. First Monday, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v28i2.11516
  4. Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., Coman, I.A., & Ejaz, W. (2023). A Systematic Literature Review of Research From 2010 to 2020 Addressing User-generated Online Comments Related to Health Issues and Recommendations for Future Research. International Journal of Communication, 17(2023), 256-280. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/19290
  5. Ejaz, W., Ittefaq, M., & Jamil, S. (2023). Politics triumphs: A topic modeling approach of analyzing news media coverage of climate change in Pakistan. Journal of Science Communication, 22(01), A02. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.22010202
  6. Kamboh, S.A.& Ittefaq, M. (2022). Advocacy journalism and climate justice in a Global Southern country. Local Environment, 28(4), 412-432. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2022.2155937
  7. 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 and Mass Communication Educator, 77(4), 414-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958221125358
  8. Seo, H., Liu, Y., Ittefaq, M., Shayesteh, F., Kamanga, U. & Baines, A. (2022). International migrants and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations: Social Media, motivated information management, and vaccination willingness. Digital Health, 8(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221125972
  9. Zhou, L., Ouyang, F., Li, Y., Zhan, J., Akhtar, N., & Ittefaq, M. (2022). Examining the Factors Influencing Tourists’ Destination : A Case of Nanhai Movie Theme Park in China. Sustainability, 14(18), 11419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811419
  10. Ittefaq, M., Kamboh, S.A., Iqbal, A., Iftikhar, U., Abwao, M., & Arif, R. (2022). 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
  11. Baines, A., Seo, H., Ittefaq, M., Shayesteh, F., Kamanga, U., & Liu, Y. (2022). Race/ethnicity, online information and COVID-19 vaccination: Study of minority immigrants’ internet use for health-related information. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 29(2), 268-287. https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565221116075
  12. Kamboh, S.A., Ittefaq, M., & Yousaf, M. (2022). Editorial journalism and environmental issues in the majority world. International Journal of Communication, 16(2022), 2646-2668. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/18128/3783
  13. Ittefaq, M., Seo, H., Abwao, M., & Baines, A. (2022). Social media use for health, cultural characteristics, and demographics: A survey of Pakistani millennials. Digital Health, 8, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221089454
  14. Ittefaq, M., & Kamboh, S. A. (2022). COVID-19 and national images: the case of #ResignModi. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 18, 15–17. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-021-00253-z
  15. Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., Baines, A., & Belmas, G., Kamboh, S.A., & Figueroa, E. (2022). A pandemic of hate: Social representations of COVID-19 in the media. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 22(1), 225-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12300
  16. Baines, A., Ittefaq, M., & Abwao, M. (2022). Social media for social support: A study of international graduate students in the U.S. Journal of International Students. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v12i2.3158
  17. Kamboh, S.A., Ittefaq, M., & Sahi, A. (2021). Journalistic routines as factors promoting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Pakistan. Third World Quarterly, 43(1), 278-287. //doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2021.1995713
  18. Shah, S.F.A., Ginossar, T., & Ittefaq, M. (2021). “We always report under pressure”: Professionalism and journalistic identity among regional journalists in a conflict zone. Journalism. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211050442
  19. Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., & Kamboh, S.A. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine selfie: Why does it matter? American Journal of Health Education, 52 (6), 360-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2021.1973615
  20. Ejaz, W., Ittefaq, M., & Arif, M. (2021). Understanding influences, misinformation, and fact-checking concerning climate-change journalism in Pakistan. Journalism Practice, 16(2-3), 404-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1972029
  21. Ittefaq, M., Kamboh, S.A., & Abwao, M. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine selfie: A modest endeavor to increase vaccine acceptance. Psychology & Health, 38(2), 209-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2021.1957888
  22. Ittefaq, M., Ejaz, W., Jamil, S., Iqbal, A., & Arif, R. (2021). Discriminated in society and marginalized in media: Social representation of Christian sanitary workers in Pakistan. Journalism Practice, 17(1), 66-84. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1939103
  23. Ittefaq, M., Ejaz. W., Fahmy, S. F., & Sheikh, A. (2021). Converged journalism: Practices and influences in Pakistan. Media International Australia, 181 (1), 167-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X211017329
  24. Abwao, M., Ittefaq, M., Baines, A., & Liu, P. (2021). “The disabled community is still waiting for equality”: What do users have to say about sexual reproductive health of persons with disabilities in online news comments. Frontiers in Communication, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.667627
  25. Ejaz, W., Ittefaq, M., Seo, H., & Naz, F. (2021). Factors associated with the belief in COVID-19 related conspiracy theories in Pakistan. Health, Risk, & Society, 23(3-4), 162-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698575.2021.1929865
  26. Ittefaq, M., Ahmed, Z.S., & Pantoja, Y.I.M. (2021). China’s Belt and Road Initiative and soft power in Pakistan: An examination of the local English-language press. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 19(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-021-00212-8
  27. Baines, A., Ittefaq, M., & Abwao, M. (2021). #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler social media platform tells us about COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines, 9(5), 421. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050421
  28. Laeeq, M. L., Ittefaq, M., Pantoja, Y. I. M., Malik, A., & Raziq, M. M. (2021). Public engagement model to analyze digital diplomacy on Twitter: A social media analytics framework. International Journal of Communication, 15(2021), 1741–1769.
  29. Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., & Rafique, S. (2021). Polio vaccine misinformation on social media: Turning point in the fight against polio eradication in Pakistan. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 17(8), 2575-2577. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1894897
  30. Ittefaq, M., Baines, A., Abwao, M., Shah, S.F.A., & Ramzan, T. (2021). “Does Pakistan still have polio cases?”: Exploring discussions on polio and polio vaccine in online news comments in Pakistan. Vaccine, 39(3), 480-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.039
  31. Arafat, S.Y., Shoib, S., Marthoenis, M., Kar, K.S., Menon, V., Ittefaq, M., & Kabir, R. (2020). Media reporting of suicide in Muslim countries. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23(10), 941-944. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1825362
  32. Ittefaq, M., Hussain, S. A., & Fatima, M. (2020). COVID-19 and social-politics of medical misinformation on social media in Pakistan. Media Asia, 47(1-2), 75-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/01296612.2020.1817264
  33. Ejaz, W., & Ittefaq, M. (2020). Data for understanding trust in varied information sources, use of news media, and perception of misinformation regarding COVID-19 in Pakistan. Data in Brief, 32, 106091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106091
  34. Ittefaq, M. (2019). Digital diplomacy via social networks: A cross-national analysis of governmental usage of Facebook and Twitter for digital engagement. Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, 18(1), 49-69. https://doi.org/10.17477/jcea.2019.18.1.049
  35. Ahmad, T., Alvi, A., & Ittefaq, M. (2019). The use of social media on political participation among university students: an analysis of survey results from rural pakistan. SAGE Open, 9(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019864484
  36. Kamboh, S. A., & Ittefaq, M. (2019). Newspaper suicide reporting in a Muslim country: Analysis of violations and compliance with international guidelines. Journal of Media Ethics, 34(1), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23736992.2019.1568252
  37. Ittefaq, M. (2019). Revisiting news value theory in the age of globalization. Journal of Media Studies, 33(2), 81-100.
  38. 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. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207618789281
  39. Ittefaq, M., & Ahmad, T. (2018). Representation of Islam and Muslims on social media: A discourse analysis of Facebook. Journal of Media Critiques [JMC], 4(13), 39-52 10.17349/jmc118103

Book Chapters

  1. Kamboh, S.A., Ittefaq, M., Jamil, S. & Rehman, B.A. (2023). Ethical Dimensions of Climate and Environmental Issues in Pakistani Media. In Crawford, N.J.W. & Michael, K. Climate Justice in the Majority World. Routledge.
  2. Ittefaq, M., Kamboh, S.A., & Ashfaq, A. (accepted for publication). Climate Change Journalism in Pakistan: Ethical Deliberations. In Rey, E.B., Bebawi, S., & Mutsvairo, B. Routledge Companion to Journalism in the Global South. Routledge.
  3. Ittefaq, M., Ejaz, W., & Jan, W. (2023). Cross-Border Journalism in South Asia. In Rothenberger, L., Löffelholz, M., & Weaver, D. The Palgrave Handbook of Cross-Border Journalism. Palgrave Macmillan.
  4. Abwao, M., Ittefaq, M., & Watson, J. (2022). People with Disabilities and Self-Disclosure about Sexual Reproductive Health on the Internet. In Manning, J., & Noland, C. (2nd ed.), Contemporary Studies of Sexuality and Communication: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives (pp. 259-274). Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/contemporary-studies-sexuality-and-communication-theoretical-and-applied-perspectives
  5. Shah, S. F., Jan, F., & Ittefaq, M. (2021). Health and safety risks to journalists during pandemics. In Jamil, S., Çoban, B., Ataman, B., & Appiah-Adjei, G. (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Discrimination, Gender Disparity, and Safety Risks in Journalism (pp. 90-103). IGI Global. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-6686-2.ch006

Book Review

  1. Ittefaq, M. (2021). [Review of the book Movements for Change: How Individuals, Social Media and Al Jazeera Are Changing Pakistan, Egypt and Tunisia, by Rauf Arif]. International Journal of Communication, 15, 1875–1878.

Conference Presentations

  1. Ittefaq, M., Ahmad, T., & Shah, S.F.A. (2023). Highlighting Heroes and Ignoring Villains: Visual Representation of Polio and Polio Vaccine in Newspapers. Paper accepted at D.C. Health Communication Conference (DCHC), April 28-29, Washington, D.C. United States.
  2. Kamboh, S.A. & Ittefaq, M. (2023). Ethical Dimensions of Climate and Environmental Issues in Pakistani Media. Paper accepted at International Communication Association, May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
  3. Ejaz, W., Ittefaq, M., & Qusien, R. (2023). Visual Representations of Climate Change: A Meta-Analysis. Paper accepted at International Communication Association, May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
  4. Uddin, A. & Ittefaq, M. (2023). Crisis of Authenticity in Digital Freedom: A Critical Analysis of Cybersecurity Policy and Surveillance Practices in South Asia. Paper accepted at International Communication Association, May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
  5. Kamboh, S.A. & Ittefaq, M. (2023). Corporate Ownership as a Trend Setter in Ethnic Newspaper Industry in Pakistan. Paper accepted at International Communication Association, May 25-29, Toronto, Canada.
  6. Kamboh, S.A. & Ittefaq, M. (2023). Toward a proposed pragmatic model to bridge the gap between science and journalism in South Asia. Paper presented at International Environmental Communication Association, June 5-9, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States.
  7. Ejaz, W., Ittefaq, M., & Jamil, S. (2023). Politics triumphs: A topic modeling approach of analyzing news media coverage of climate change in Pakistan. Paper presented at International Environmental Communication Association, June 5-9, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States.
  8. Seo, H., Conlin, J., Diwanji, V., Baines, A., Altschwager, D., Blomberg, M., Kamanga, U., Ittefaq, M., & Pei, J. (2022). Visuals for public health campaigns: Effects of visual modality and frame in increasing vaccination intentions. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 3-6, Detroit, MI, United States.
  9. Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., & Bokhari, H. (2022). Opioids as comedy: Exploring topics, sentiments, and engagement in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on YouTube. Paper presented at International Communication Association, May 26-30, Paris, France.
  10. Kamboh, S. A., Ittefaq, M., & Yousaf, M. (2021). Critical analysis of South Asian advocacy journalism practices for advocating environmental issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper presented to the South Asia Communication Association (SACA) at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 4-7, New Orleans, United States.
  11. Ittefaq, M., Kamboh, S. A., Iqbal, A., Iftikhar, U., Abwao, M., & Arif, R. (2021). Understanding public reaction to celebrity suicide cases in online news comments. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 4-7, New Orleans, United States.
  12. Seo, H., Liu, Y., Ittefaq, M., Shayesteh, F., Kamanga, U., & Baines, A. (2021). International migrants and COVID-19 vaccination: Social media, motivated information management & vaccination willingness. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 4-7, New Orleans, United States.
  13. Baines, A., Seo, H., Ittefaq, M., Shayesteh, F., Kamanga, U., & Liu, Y. (2021). Race/ethnicity, online information & COVID-19 vaccination: Study of minority immigrants’ internet use for health-related information. Paper accepted for presentation at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 4-7, New Orleans, United States.
  14. Baines, A., Ittefaq, M., & Abwao, M. (2021). #Scamdemic, #Plandemic, or #Scaredemic: What Parler social media platform tells us about COVID-19 vaccine. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 4-7, New Orleans, United States.
  15. Ittefaq, M., Ahmed, S. Z., & Pantoja, M. Y. (2021). China’s Belt and Road Initiative and soft power in Pakistan: An examination of the English press. Paper presented at International Association for Media and Communication Research, July 11-15, Nairobi, Kenya.
  16. Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., Baines, A., Belmas, G. (2021). There’s not just a pandemic of health — there’s a pandemic of hate: A qualitative content analysis of three national newspapers from three countries. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Midwinter, March 5, Oklahoma, United States.
  17. Ittefaq, M., Vu, H., Baines, A., & Abwao, M. (2021). Automated framing analysis of polio and polio vaccination coverage in 15 regional and national Pakistani English newspapers between 2012 and 2020. Paper presented at International Communication Association, May 27-31, Denver, United States.
  18. Seo, H., Liu, Y., Ebrahim, H., Ittefaq, M., & Chung, D. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic and international students: A mixed-methods approach to social media, social support & mental health. Paper presented at International Communication Association, May 27-31, Denver, United States.
  19. Ittefaq, M., Baines, A., Abwao, M., Shah, S.F.A., & Ramzan, T. (2021). “Does Pakistan still have polio cases?”: Exploring discussions on polio and polio vaccine in online news comments in Pakistan. Paper presented at International Communication Association, May 27-31, Denver, United States.
  20. Shah, S. F. A, Ginossar, T., Ittefaq, M. (2020). Renegotiating professionalism and journalistic identities: Small town journalists in Pakistan. National Communication Association, November 19-22, Indianapolis, United States.
  21. Liu, P., Ittefaq, M., Abwao, M., & Kamanga, U. (2020). Facebook/WeChat use and acculturation: A study of Chinese international students in the United States. Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs annual conference, October 16-18, Online, United States.
  22. Ittefaq, M., Seo, H., Abwao, M., & Baines, A. (2020). Social Media use for health, cultural values, and demographics: A survey of Pakistani millennials. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, August 6-9, San Francisco, United States.
  23. Baines, A., Ittefaq, M., & Abwao, M. (2020). The power of technology: How do international graduate students at a U.S. university use of social networking sites to seek social support? Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference August 6-9, San Francisco, United States.
  24. Ittefaq, M., Sheikh, M. A., Ejaz, W., Yousaf, M., & Fahmy, S. (2020). The marriage of inconvenience: Perception of media convergence among journalists in Pakistan. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference August 6-9, San Francisco, United States.
  25. Erba, J., Geana, M., Kamanga, U., Abwao, M., Ittefaq, M., Liu, P., & Watson, J. (2020). Does a doctor’s visible identity matter? Exploring self-reported and real-time responses to a doctor’s race and gender in educational videos about clinical trials. International Communication Association annual conference, May 21-25, Gold Coast, Australia.
  26. Ittefaq, M. (2019). Reverse agenda setting via like and share: The influence of audience feedback on the media agenda. International Communication Association annual conference, May 24-28, Washington D.C. United States.
  27. Ittefaq, M. (2019). Digital diplomacy via social networks: A cross-national analysis of governmental usage of Facebook and Twitter for digital engagement. International Communication Association annual conference, May 24-28, Washington D.C. United States.
  28. Ittefaq, M. (2017). Comparative empirical case study of foreign news between Chinese & English social media (Twitter vs. Sina Weibo). World Communication Association annual conference, August 6-8, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  29. Ittefaq, M. & Ahmed, A. (2017). Use of social networking sites in public diplomacy- A case study of PEHC abroad. International Conference on Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy annual conference, July 7-8, Ilmenau, Germany.
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