Nikhil Moro, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of North Texas, where he directs a research collective titled South Asian Media, Culture & Arts, and co-edits a humanities journal, the Journal of Contemporary Thought . He teaches postgraduate and undergraduate courses in journalism law and digital media.
In a 10-year career as a journalist in India and the United States, Moro wrote or edited for The Networker (Columbus), The Times of India (Mumbai), Coffeeland News (Madikeri) and Andolana (Mysore). In 2006, he obtained the doctorate from The Ohio State University, whose communication programme has been ranked among the top five in the United States by the National Research Council. His dissertation, titled “Freedom of Expression and the Information Society: A Legal Analysis Toward a Libertarian Framework for Libel,” was considered seminal to the emerging field of Internet law.
Moro’s research, which is primarily in Internet law, focuses on disruptions of the laws of libel and copyright by the Web. It also addresses media performance in South Asia. It has appeared in eminent journals: First Amendment Studies , Journal of Internet Law , Journal of Media Law & Ethics , Global Media and Communication , Journal of Contemporary Thought , Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly and others.
His research has won national and regional awards in the United States and been shared at conferences of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in Chicago, Saint Louis, Denver, Boston, Washington, San Francisco, Toronto and Miami Beach; the International Communication Association (ICA) in Phoenix, Boston and New Orleans; the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) in Durban and Istanbul; and the Forum on Contemporary Theory (FCT) in Allahabad and Jaipur.
Moro chaired the AEJMC Civic & Citizen Journalism Interest Group, which in 2009 recognised him for Outstanding Service. He serves on the AEJMC strategic plan committee and coordinates South Asian Media, Culture & Arts at his university. A devotee of Swami Vivekananda’s expositions on the Vedanta, he also serves on the advisory board of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Texas. He has reviewed book manuscripts for preeminent publishers: SAGE, Allyn& Bacon, McGraw Hill, Bedford/St. Martin’s and Oxford University Press. He has reviewed research manuscripts for Communication Law and Policy and Journalism & Mass Communication Educator and conference papers for AEJMC. He has taught media law at four public universities in Ohio, Georgia, Michigan and Texas.
Moro is frequently invited to give expert talks, speak on erudite panels, and guide masters and doctoral students. He consults pro bono on issues of media law and telecommunication policy.
Research :
As a Public Policy Scholar with The Hindu Centre, Moro examined Indian media policy, measured in recent executive actions targeting bloggers, reporters and other speakers.
Read Policy Report No. 4 here:Web Freedom and Criminal Libel in India.
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