Itai Himelboim

Hello!

I am a Ph.D. student at the SJMC since September 2003. I graduated from the Tel Aviv University in Israel (in Israel): MA in political communication and BA in Mass Communication and Psychology. When I have some free time I enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, cooking & eating.

Don’t forget to visit my website for more info and my complete CV.

Current Research Interests:

In my research, I combine a network approach with traditional communication theories to address the changes that communication and information technologybrings to the field. With research experience inside and outside the discipline, including industry, I aim to identify those changes and use them to make meaningful theoretical and methodological contributions.

My research focuses on technology and society, international communication and media ethics.  In my dissertation I draw from two conceptual frameworks – network society and civil society – to explore theoretical and empirical aspects of social interactions mediated by information and communication technology. At the individual level, I study online political conversations, identifying their internal network structures of reciprocity and attention distribution. At the institutional level, I explore the flow of information in the worldwide network of news websites.

Journal Publications

Himelboim, I. and Limor, Y. (2008). The Perception of Freedom of the Press in the Eyes of the Media: A Comparative, International Analysis of 242 Ethical Codes, Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, 9(4). In Press.

Southwell B.G., Anghelcev, G., Himelboim, I., and Jones, J. (2007). Does User Experience Affect the Relationship of Control Availability and Control Perception?, Computers in Human Behavior, 23(1), 554-563.

 Limor, Y. and Himelboim, I. (2006). Journalism and Moonlighting: An International Comparative Study of 242 Codes of Ethics, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 21(4), 265-285.

Selected Conference Presentations (for complete list see my personal webpage):

Himelboim, I., Wirtz, J.G. and Jones, J. (2008). Online Health Discussions: Content in Context. Paper accepted for presentation at the International Sunbelt Social Network Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, January 22-28.

Himelboim, I., Fisher, D., Gleave, E., and Smith, M. (2007). Reply Magnets in Online Political Discussions: Analysis of Six Months of Discussion in 20 Usenet Political Newsgroups. Paper accepted for presentation at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 58th Annual Convention. Washington D.C., August 9-12.

 Top Student Paper for the Communication and Technology Division: Jones, J. and Himelboim, I. (2007). Just a Guy in Pajamas? Framing the Blogs: Emergence of the Blogosphere in Mainstream U.S. Newspaper Coverage (1999-2005). Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 58th Annual Convention. San Francisco, CA, August 9-13.

Himelboim, I. and Lavelle, S.M. (2006). Flow Leaders in Online Discussions. Paper presented at the XXVI Sunbelt Social Network Conference. Vancouver, Canada, April 25-30.

Himelboim, I. and Southwell, B. (2005). Are blogs actually an alternative information source compared to traditional media? Linking patterns in news blogs. Paper presented at the 6 th Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers: Internet Generations, Chicago, IL, October 5-6, 2005.

Himelboim, I. (2005). Applying network analysis to the “network of networks” - The case of Usenet discussion groups. Paper presented at the 3 rd annual New Research for New Media symposium. University of Minnesota, Minnesota, September 30 – October 2, 2005.

Himelboim, I. and Limor, Y. (2005). The Perception of Freedom of the Press in the Eyes of the Media: A Comparative, International Analysis of 242 Ethical Codes. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 56 th annual convention. San Antonio, TX, August 10-13, 2005. 

Himelboim, I. (2005). Search Engines as Hegemonic Apparatus: the Structure of Flow of Information in the World Wide Web. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, New York, NY, May 26-30.

Himelboim, I., Lavelle, S.M and Kafri, R. (2005). The Structure of an Online Discussion – Using Network Analysis to Study a Political Usenet Group. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, New York, NY, May 26-30.

Himelboim I. and Limor, Y. (2005). The Journalistic Societal Role – An International comparative study of 242 codes of ethics. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, New York, NY, May 26-30.

Himelboim, I. and Lavelle, S.M. (2005). Online discussions as networks: The relations between topic of Usenet groups and their structure. Paper presented at the XXV Sunbelt Social Network Conference, Redondo Beach, CA, February 16-20.

TA, RA, or Other UM Appointments:

RA for the Research Center

Journalism Ethics (TA)

New Media and Society (TA)

Introduction to Mass Communication (TA)

Visual communication (TA)

Professional Experience:

The Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies:

I. The Internet Division – Designing and developing the content of the Center’s website, creating online educational activities and responsibility for the ongoing maintenance [2002-2003]

II. Education Dep. – Developing and guiding educational programs that are related to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Among the issues are incitement and freedom of speech [2000-2003]

 “Salat” (Students media-watch organization) – Salat operated from the Tel-Aviv University by students from variety of academic institutions in Israel. Students monitor media organizations for ethical violations. I established this organization and was its led it in its first two years [2001-2003]