Muhammad Ayish is author of Satellite Television & Global Democratic Consciousness

Muhammad Ayish, author from the Middle East, is currently Professor of Communication at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He has two bachelor degrees, one in broadcast journalism and another in English, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia (USA) in 1979. He also holds a Master's degree in international television from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (1983) and a doctoral degree in broadcasting and public diplomacy from the same institution (1986). He has worked at several universities in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates both in teaching and administrative positions and has served as Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Sharjah from 2002-2008.

Muhammad Ayish’s research interests include Arab media and politics, media convergence, media and social change, and women media representations. He has over 60 published articles and book chapters on Arab satellite television, media and democratization, development communication, Arab-Islamic communication perspectives. His most recently published book is entitled The New Arab Public Sphere (Berlin: Frank & Timme, 2008).  This work is an intellectual exercise in synthesizing Islamic moral values and modern democratic practices. Professor Ayish also serves on the editorial boards of numerous Arab and international media journals. In addition, he has spoken at over 45 international media and communication conferences. He also contributes a weekly column to the Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper on media, culture and education.

“I believe the Building Global Democracy and Citizen Learning for Global Democracy projects carry immense promises for the diffusion of democratic values and practices around the world and across cultures. The rich moral values embedded in Arab-Islamic culture resonate quite powerfully with many contemporary democratic practices, something that has often by eclipsed by historical animosities and political conflicts.  I hope that I would be able through these projects to highlight common moral values shared by Arab-Islamic and other world cultures on the question of democracy. In this sense, I see the Building Global Democracy and CLGD projects also as promoting international understanding and peace.”

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