Dr. Jack G. Shaheen (born 1935) is a distinguished visiting scholar with New York University, and [Professor]] Emeritus of Mass Communication at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. From 1993-1998, he served as a consultant on Middle East affairs for CBS News.
A Pittsburgh native, he is a committed internationalist who studies portrayals of Arabs and Islam in American media. Dr. Shaheen mainly addresses stereotypical images of racial and ethnic groups. His presentations contend that stereotypes do not exist in a vacuum, that hurtful caricatures of Asians, blacks, Latinos and others, impact innocents. He explains why he considers such portraits persist, and suggests ways of countering what he sees as misconceptions.
Shaheen has given over 1,000 lectures in nearly all the 50 states and three continents. Recently, he was hosted by the Central Intelligence Agency; he also spoken at the U.S.West Point Military Academy, the Marine Command and Staff College, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the White House Truman Center. In cooperation with the United States government, he has traveled and lectured throughout the Middle East. Among those many universities that have welcomed him are Oxford, Amherst, Brown, Emory, Harvard, and Georgetown. World capitols where he has lectured include London, Berlin, Prague, Istanbul, New Delhi, Cairo, and Paris.He has consulted with the United Nations, the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and New York City's Commission on Civil Rights.
Shaheen, is the author of five books: Nuclear War Films, The TV Arab,Arab and Muslim Stereotyping in American Popular Culture, the award-winning book [and DVD-www.relbadarabs.com]Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, and GUILTY Hollywood's Verdict on Arabs after 9/11. His writings include 300-plus essays in publications such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, to chapters on media stereotypes in dozens of college textbooks.Dr. Shaheen, an Oxford Research Scholar, is the recipient of two Fulbright teaching awards; he also received St Bonaventure University's Lenna award, which brings individuals of national and international stature to the university. Shaheen holds degrees from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Missouri.
He has appeared on national network programs such as CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Nightline, Good Morning America, 48 Hours, and The Today Show.In 2011, he co-hosted the Turner Classic Movie series, " Arabs in Cinema: Race and Hollywood."Among Dr. Shaheen's awards recognizing his "outstanding contribution towards a better understanding of our global community" are: the Central Asia Institute's 2011 Peacemaker Lifetime Achievement Award,The University of Pennsylvania's Janet Lee Stevens Award; the New York's Arabic Orchestra's Lifetime Achievement Award, Lebanon's Takreem Cultural Achievement Award given in recognition of his innovative leadership, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of "his lifelong commitment to bring a better understanding towards peace for all mankind;" and the Pancho Be Award for "the advancement of humanity." Pancho Be, a Mayan phrase, means to seek the root of truth.
Shaheen has also served as a professional film consultant. He worked with: writer-director Steve Gaghan on Syriana (2005); producer Chuck Roven on Three Kings (1999); producer Pearlena Igboke on Showtime's TV movie, Westwind (1998); producer Jeffrey Katzenberg on the animated movie, The Prince of Egypt (1997); and director Michal Goldman on her telling documentary, Um Khultum: A Voice like Egypt (1996).
Shaheen, a recipient of two Fulbright teaching awards, holds degrees from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Missouri. He regularly appears on national programs such as Nightline, Good Morning America, 48 Hours, and The Today Show. Also, he has worked with several television series: The Lucy Show, Twelve O'Clock High and The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.