About Me and This Blog
First, About Me
Hello! I am Jiwon. Welcome to my website!
I am deeply grateful and delighted that you’ve chosen to spend your valuable time here.
I hold a Ph.D. in Media and Communication (Temple University), and am a former tenured professor of Media Studies (one day, I might share my academic exodus story and my fulfilling post-academic life). I have been honored with research awards from the International Communication Association (ICA) and the Broadcasting Education Association (BEA). My research centers around media and digital literacy, intercultural communication, and cultural competence. Currently, I am a Fellow Scholar at the Media Education Lab.
With over two decades of teaching experience in higher education, my academic portfolio includes a wide range of courses like Media Literacy, Media and Children, Cross-cultural Communication, Media and Social Change, Public Speaking, Introduction to Human Communication, and numerous others related to media and communication. My passion extends beyond the classroom, having collaborated with fellow educators to integrate media literacy into diverse educational settings, as well as directly instructing children and teenagers.
My work includes supporting North Korean defectors, aiding in their GED preparation, and teaching media literacy across various institutions. My doctoral dissertation focused on enhancing cultural competence in North Korean defectors through media literacy education, an area that has led to the authorship of several book chapters by me. Currently, I am collaborating with Kumhee, a North Korean defector who was my student 22 years ago and has since become a close friend, to write her memoir. For further information about this fascinating project, please click here.
My upbringing is richly multicultural. Born and raised in South Korea, my life took a turn at 14 when we moved to Thailand due to my father’s job. After returning to Korea for college, I maintained close ties with Thailand, where my parents lived for 16 years. My academic pursuits took me on exchange programs to Hawaii and China, and at 23, I moved to the U.S. for graduate studies. My American journey has seen me residing in various cities, including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Tustin (CA), Chicago, and the Greater Seattle area. These experiences significantly influence my parenting style and perspectives.
About This Blog
Parenthood has taught me that parenting style is a reflection of oneself – encompassing personal knowledge, beliefs, and values. These elements collectively influence how we raise our children. My background in media and communication, along with my cultural experiences, profoundly shapes my parenting approach. I’m excited to document and share this learning journey with you, including both my successes and challenges, as I believe in learning and growing from every experience.
On my blog, I’ll cover a range of topics under various categories, each representing a distinct aspect of this intricate and beautiful parenting journey:
Communication Smart: This category centers on enhancing kids’ communication skills, but it goes beyond just the children. It’s imperative for caregivers to concurrently develop their communication skills too. Therefore, this section is akin to a guide, aiming to bolster the communication abilities of the entire family, offering insights and techniques beneficial for every member.
Media Smart Family: This category aims to foster positive interactions with media technology, transforming screen time into a beneficial and enjoyable experience for children and adults alike.
Cultural Intelligence: This category emphasizes the significance of appreciating and respecting diverse cultures, alongside fostering a robust sense of identity and pride in one’s own cultural heritage. I firmly believe that being bilingual or multilingual greatly enhances cultural intelligence and brings numerous advantages. Therefore, I’ll also share strategies for effectively implementing multilingualism in children’s upbringing.
K-Parenting: Drawing from my Korean heritage, this section delves into Korean parenting styles, celebrating their unique strengths while also addressing current challenges they face.
Better Me Project: This category underscores the transformative power of parenthood, highlighting how the journey of raising a child can lead to personal growth, happiness, and well-being.
Miscellaneous Musings: This is a collection of diverse thoughts and stories that might not fit neatly into the other categories. While I understand the benefits of a focused blog, I have a wide array of interests and many thoughts to share. So, why should I limit myself? After all, this blog is my personal space. I want to express myself freely, covering a variety of topics from spontaneous reflections to deeper musings, extending beyond the realms of communication, media, and culture.
Thank you for visiting, and I hope you’ll find my blog posts insightful. Don’t forget to check back for more updates!