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College of Information and Communications

UNESCO Chair

Fellows

The UNESCO Chair works closely with researchers around the world to better understand the challenges surrounding the quality, reliability, and accuracy of information in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. This global network brings together diverse perspectives and expertise, all aimed at strengthening how information is created, shared, and trusted.

Below, you’ll meet our fellows, scholars and practitioners who are actively contributing to this mission. Explore their work, ideas, and impact to see how each is helping address some of the most pressing information challenges of our time.

Marc Owen Jones

Marc Owen Jones

Marc Owen Jones, an associate professor of media analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar. His research and teaching examine disinformation, digital authoritarianism, and political repression, with a particular focus on how transnational influence operations, harassment campaigns, and digital control mechanisms emerge from — or target — the Middle East.

Jones is the author of Political Repression in Bahrain as well as Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Deception, Disinformation, and Social Media, which was among Foreign Affairs’ 2023 Books of the Year.

He is known for pioneering investigations into coordinated disinformation and harassment campaigns that exposed networks of fake journalists, state-aligned bot operations targeting Western policymakers, and cross-platform influence efforts aimed at journalists, academics, and activists.

Dan Sultanescu

Dan Sultanescu

Dan Sultănescu, an associate professor at the Center for Civic Participation and Democracy (SNSPA) in Bucharest, Romania, and the founder of an interdisciplinary research center (CPD SNSPA). He also founded NewsVibe.ro, a startup for innovative measurement of online and social media impact.

Sultanescu is an expert in political science and public communication with extensive experience in political campaigns, elections, and communication research.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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