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Christopher Assaf

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Mayborn School of Journalism

(940) 565-4590

Email: Christopher.assaf@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2024
    Major: Journalism and Media
  • MA, University of Texas at Austin, 2020
    Major: Journalism

Professional Positions

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Graduate Research Assistant, The University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Austin. (2022 - 2023).
  • Senior Student Digitization Associate, Harrty Ransom Center. Harrty Ransom Center. (2019 - 2020).
  • Graduate Research Assistant, The University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Austin. (2019 - 2019).
  • Graduate Research Assistant/ Population Health Scholar, The University of Texas System. The University of Texas System. (2018 - 2019).

    • Professional

  • Videographer, Salisbury University. Salisbury University. (2017 - 2018).
  • Visuals Content Editor for Investigations & Enterprise, The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun. (2014 - 2016).
  • Multimedia Editor/Video, The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun. (2008 - 2013).
  • Staff Photographer, The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun. (2003 - 2008).

Professional Memberships

  • International Communication Association. (2021 - Present).
  • Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. (2019 - Present).
  • White House News Photographers Association. (2007 - Present).
  • National Press Photographers Association. (1987 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Workshop, Early Career Workshop IV: Potentially Unanticipated Nuances as the Semester Ends, UNT Faculty Initiatives, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. United States of America. (December 2024).
  • Other (Training), Encourage Active Learning with iClicker, UNT Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation, Center for Learning Experimentation, Application and Research (CLEAR). United States of America. (November 6, 2024).
  • Workshop, Early Career Workshop III: Roundtable Discussion, UNT Faculty Initiatives, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. United States of America. (October 2024).
  • Other (Training), Showcase Student Skills & Accomplishments with Canvas Folio (Virtual) Digital Portfolio, UNT Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation, Center for Learning Experimentation, Application and Research (CLEAR). United States of America. (October 16, 2024).
  • Workshop, Mentoring & Speed Mentoring, UNT Faculty Success. United States of America. (October 7, 2024).
  • Workshop, Early Career Workshop II: Organizing Your Week for Success, UNT Faculty Initiatives, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. United States of America. (August 2024).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • JOUR 3343 - Visual News Storytelling, 1 course.
  • JOUR 3700 - Fundamentals of Photojournalism, 1 course.
  • JOUR 4730 - Advanced Photojournalism Portfolio, 1 course.
  • JOUR 5750 - Advanced Multimedia Storytelling for News, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Supervised Teaching Activity, "Noticias: Bringing hands on media experience to universities Spanish speaking students," Mayborn School of Journalism. (September 2024 - November 2024).

Awards and Honors

  • Top Refereed Paper, Visual Communication Division, AEJMC Southeast Colloquium 2022, Memphis, TN. (March 18, 2022).
  • Second-place Refereed Student Paper, Visual Communication Division, AEJMC Southeast Colloquium 2021, Elon, NC. (March 20, 2021).
  • Gold Medal, US football, World Sports Photography Awards/25 Years. (2021).
  • Silver Medal, Baseball, World Sports Photography Awards/25 Years. (2021).
  • Second-Place Refereed Student Paper, History Division, AEJMC 2020 Annual Conference, San Francisco. (August 7, 2020).
  • Second-Place Refereed Student Paper, Visual Communication Division, AEJMC 2019 Annual Conference, Toronto. (August 7, 2019).
  • Finalist in Breaking News, The Pulitzer Prizes. (April 18, 2016).
  • Award of Excellence Pictorial Photo, White House News Photographers Eyes of History. (2016).
  • Award of Excellence, Video Under Deadline, National Press Photographers Association's Television Best of Photojournalism. (2016).
  • Community Service Photojournalism Award (Staff), American Society of News Editors. (2016).
  • Finalist, Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom, Online News Association Online Journalism Awards. (2016).
  • Finalist, Feature, Medium Newsroom, Online News Association Online Journalism Awards. (2016).
  • First Place Domestic News Photo, White House News Photographers Eyes of History. (2016).
  • Winner, Breaking News – Print (Staff), National Press Club. (2016).
  • Winner, Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom, Online News Association Online Journalism Awards. (2016).
  • Finalist, The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Medium Newsroom, Online News Association Online Journalism Awards. (2014).
  • Winner, Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom, Online News Association Online Journalism Awards. (2014).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Griesser, K., Assaf, C.T., Stroud, S.R. (2023). Photojournalism and Democracy. Media, Ethics, and Democracy. (1st Edition) 72-86. Center for Media Engagement..

    • Journal Article

  • Bock, M.A., Assaf, C.T., Richardson, K.J., Tsyrenzhapova4, D. (2023). Epistemological Elements of Online News Video: Legacy Media and Digital Native Production Styles. New Media & Society. Online First Sage. https://doi.org/10/gs8cbv
  • Bock, M.A., Richardson, K.J., Assaf, C.T., Tsyrenzhapova4, D. (2023). Improvisation, Economy, and MTV Moves: Online News and Video Production Style. Electronic News. 17 (3) 146-163. Sage. https://doi-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/10.1177/19312431231157104
  • Bock, M.A., Assaf, C.T. (2022). The Robert Capa Myth: Hegemonic Masculinity in Photojournalism’s Professional Indoctrination. Communication, Culture & Critique. 15 (1) 84-101. Oxford University Press. https://doi-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/10.1093/ccc/tcab049

    • White Paper

  • Tamar, W., Muse, H., Coddington, M., Hernández, F.G., Johnson, P., McLemore, D., Muddiman, A., Rhodes, S., Sridharan, N., Appelman, A., Assaf, C.T., Bentley, J., Núñez-Mussa, E., Green-Barber, L., Lewis, S.C., Bélair-Gagnon, V., Golen, J., Holton, A., Mahmood, R. (2024). Introduction: The research-practice gap in journalism. The Research-Practice Gap in Journalism: Why It Exists and How We Can Address It. American Press Institute. https://www.journalismbridgingproject.com/white-paper

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Assaf, C.T. (Author & Presenter), ICA 2022 Paris Preconference, Extended Abstract: Presidential Political Visuals: Comparing Trump and Biden Persuasiveness on Instagram, Internation Communication Association, Paris, France. (2022).

    • Poster

  • Assaf, C.T. (Author & Presenter), AEJMC 2024 Philadelphia, Serendipity Lost: Video-Equivalent Cameras Diminishing the Decisive Moment & Photojournalistic Identity, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Philadelphia, United States of America. (2024).
  • McElroy, K. (Author), Chyi, I.H. (Author), McDonald, C. (Author), Assaf, C.T. (Author & Presenter), ICA 2022 Paris, Extended Abstract: Trying to Save Rural Journalism: Leadership Pipeline and Economic Sustainability, Internation Communication Association, Paris, France. (2022).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, MRTS-MSOJ Convergence Ad Hoc Committee. (November 20, 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, MRTS-MSOJ Sports Major Ad Hoc Committee. (November 20, 2024 - Present).
  • Member, Latakoo Video Content System and Technology Ad Hoc Committee. (October 18, 2024 - Present).
  • Member, Academic Technologies Computing Committee. (September 2024 - Present).
  • Other (Secretary), Technology and Space Committee. (September 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Faculty Advisor, Hatch Visuals Agency. (August 2024 - Present).
  • Faculty Advisor, UNT National Press Photographers Association Student Chapter. (August 2024 - Present).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Visual Communication Quarterly Special Issue: State of Visual Evidence. (November 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Visual Communication Quarterly. (October 2024).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. (April 2024).