Education and Publications

Educational Background

PhD (Arts): Monash University, Sunway Campus (Nov 07- Sep 11)
Thesis: “The Monetisation of Personal Blogging: Assembling the Self and Markets in Malaysia.”
Supervisors: Dr Yeoh Seng Guan, Dr David Holmes
Examiners: Dr Alex Halavais, Dr John Postill.

MA Social Anthropology of Development: SOAS,  University of London (Sept 00-01)
Dissertation title: “NgosOnTheNet. Development Organisations and the Internet”

MA Social Sciences (Hons): University of Glasgow (Oct 89 – June 94)
Dissertation: “The Truck Economy and Social Change during the 19th century Shetland Islands Herring Boom.”

Professional Qualifications
Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology (CMALT)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word (Expert), PowerPoint (2020)
Microsoft Innovative Educator (2020)
Google Certified Educator Levels 1 and 2, Trainer Skills Assessment and Google Trainer workshop (2019)
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (2015)
Cambridge Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) (Nov 2002)

Other
‘Understanding Media by Understanding Google’ (July 2014), Northwestern University, Coursera
6th Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia studies (July 2011). Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

Publications

Book
(2019) Monetising the Dividual Self: Lifestyle Blogging and the Emergence of Microcelebrity in Malaysia. Berghahn Books, New York.

Articles
(2021). Choosing a Social Media Platform: Genre and Social Ties in Urban Malaysia. International Journal of Communications, 15: p21. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/10404.
(2019). We Connect with people through stories: Gender and Affective Labor in Momblogging. International Journal of Communications, 13. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/10997
(2016). The Myth of “Real Life”. Anthropology Now, 8:3: 111-121.  http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19428200.2016.1242920
(2014) “Cybertroopers & tea parties: government use of the internet in Malaysia”. Asian Journal of Communication, 24.1: 5-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2013.851721

Edited Book
(2012) with Lee, J. Thinking Through Malaysia: culture and identity in the 21st century. SIRD, Petaling Jaya. (Nominated for the Popular-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards (2013)

Chapters
(2016). The Concept of Affordances in Digital Studies. In Friese H., Rebane G., Nolden M. and Schreiter, M. (Eds), ‘ Handbuch Soziale Praktiken und Digitale Alltagswelten’. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden, pp1-8. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-658-08460-8_67-1
(2016). The Emergence of the Lifestyle Blog Genre. In Friese H., Rebane G., Nolden M. and Schreiter, M. (Eds), ‘Handbuch Soziale Praktiken und Digitale Alltagswelten’ . Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden, pp1-8. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-658-08460-8_68-1
(2012). “From All-Blogs to Blog House Malaysia: SoPo Blogging, Journalism and Politics in Malaysia”. In J. Hopkins & J. Lee (Eds), Thinking Through Malaysia: culture and identity in the 21st century . SIRD, Petaling Jaya.
(2011) with Thomas, N. “Fielding Networked Marketing: Technology and Authenticity in the Monetization of Malaysian Blogs.” In D. Araya, Y. Breindl, & T. J. Houghton (Eds.), Nexus: New Intersections in Internet Research. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

Conference Proceedings
(2014). Click fraud: advertising and the territorialisation of personal blogs. In Selected Papers of Internet Research 15: The 15th Annual Meeting of the Association of Internet Researchers. Daegu, Republic of Korea. <http://spir.aoir.org/index.php/spir/article/view/950>
(2013). Assembling affordances: towards a theory of relational affordances. Selected Papers of Internet Research 14: The 14th Annual Meeting of the Association of Internet Researchers. Denver, USA. <http://spir.aoir.org/index.php/spir/article/view/783>
(2012). Cyberwar and social media: Barisan Nasional’s online presence. Presented at The 8th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC8), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia.

Book Review
(2009). “Media Studies: Blogging and Democratization in Malaysia.” M/C Reviews. <http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3382>

Conference/Seminar
(2018). ‘We Connect with people through stories’: Digital Inequalities in Momblogging. Digital Inequality in Southeast Asia, Digital Media Research Centre, QUT, 1 June 2018, Brisbane, Australia (by invitation)
(2018). Genre Socialities: Polymedia, Media Switching, and Everyday Uses of Social and Mobile Media in Malaysia. The 3rd Asiascape: Digital Asia Conference, 29 May 2018, Leiden University, NL
(2017). Exploring Mobile and Algorithmic Socialities: WhatsApp And Facebook In Everyday Malaysia. ICAS10, 20-23 July 2017, Chiang Mai, Thailand
(2016). OMG so cuute!’: Microcelebrity and Parenthood in Malaysia. Celebrity Studies Journal Conference, University of Amsterdam
(2016). Exploring Digital Socialities. Preliminary Results on Uses of Social and Mobile Media in Personal and Social Relations in Malaysia. Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT, Melbourne
(2015). Algorithmic socialities: Preliminary Results on Uses of Social Media in Personal and Social Relations in Malaysia. Internet in Southeast Asia. Power and Society. Monash University Malaysia.
(2015). Assembling blog affordances: theorising affordances and agency in new media. Media Anthropology Network e-seminar.
(2013). Cybertroopers & tea parties: government use of the Internet in Malaysia. Presented at the Media & Journalism Seminar, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
(2013). The myth of ‘Real Life’. Presented at the SCCA Research Colloquium, KDU University College. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. (By Invitation)
(2011). ‘Responsible blogging’: social-political blogging and blogging associations in Malaysia. Presented at the International Young Scholars’ Conference 2011, Monash University Sunway Campus, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
(2011). Labouring lifestyle: assembling the lifestyle blog. Presented at the 6th Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia studies. Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
(2010). The Malaysian lifestyle blog: a national blogging genre? Presented at the Internet Colloquium: WCU Webometrics Institute at Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea. (By invitation)
(2009). Blogging field notes: participatory innovation or methodological dead end? Presented at the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference 2009, QUT, Brisbane.
(2008). Blogwars – authenticity and value in the blogosphere. Presented at the MSC6 – Engaging Malaysian Modernity 50 Years and Beyond, Kuching, Malaysia.

Non-Academic Publications
(2020, January). Podcasts and Flipped Learning. #ALTC Blog. (Available online: https://altc.alt.ac.uk/blog/2020/01/podcasts-and-flipped-learning/
(2018, March). Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and commercialising humanity. Lens. https://lens.monash.edu/2018/03/29/1339084/facebook-cambridge-analytica-and-commercialising-humanity
(2015, November). Is Malaysia a media saturated society? Malaysiakini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/321222.
(2015, August). “Decolonising the Malaysian Media” Malaysiakini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/310259
(2014, August). “#IceBucketChallenge™ and social media” The Malay Mail Online http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/icebucketchallenge-and-social-media-julian-hopkins
(2012, October). The ‘Anything’ Machine. The B-Side.
(2010, April). Not the MSM? Off the Edge, (64), 34-5.
(2007, November). Cyberplagiarism – technology in education. Prospect Malaysia, (4), 24-26.

Press appearances
NTV7 (May 2018). Invited guest on live television programme ‘Viewpoints’.
Tan, C. C. (2018). RUN-UP TO GE14: How big data is changing Malaysia’s election landscape. The Edge Markets, 2 April. http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/runup-ge14-how-big-data-changing-election-landscape
BFM 89.9 – The Business Station (19 March 2018). Evening Edition. Cambridge Analytica: Damaging Democracy with Data. https://www.bfm.my/cambridge-analytica-damaging-democracy-with-data
BFM 89.9 – The Business Station (21 February 2018). Evening Edition. Video Killed the Radio Star. https://www.bfm.my/video-killed-the-radio-star
Sivanandam, H. & R. Rahim (2018). Going big on social media. The Star Online, 1 September. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/01/09/going-big-on-social-media-for-more-stories-political-parties-embrace-digital-platforms-to-woo-voters/
Chung, C. (2017). 80% not buying online content. The Star Online, 25 October. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/10/25/80-not-buying-online-content-only-17-of-msians-consider-social-media-news-to-be-reliable/
BFM 89.9 – The Business Station (13 September 2017). The 6AM Stretch. Comment on the use of social media to access news. https://www.bfm.my/six-am-stretch-not-feeding-the-trolls
Sani, R. (2017). Teach youth the language of algorithm. NST Online, 26 July. https://www.nst.com.my/node/260882
Sani, R. (2017). Facebook is most used social media platform by M’sian students: survey. NST Online. http://www.nst.com.my/node/246209
FMT Reporters (2017). Survey: Students big on Facebook, less on WhatsApp. Free Malaysia Today. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/06/06/survey-students-big-on-facebook-less-on-whatsapp/
BFM 89.9 – The Business Station (3 April 2017). The Evening Edition. Comment on social media education debate.
ABC NewsRadio (2016). Nine Australians arrested at Malaysian GP likely to be deported. http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/content/s4548048.htm
Tam, M. (2014). Fake news, true blues. The Star Online. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/07/26/Fake-news-true-blues/
Chin, C. (2014). “Caught up in the selfie craze.” The Star Online. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/23/Caught-up-in-the-selfie-craze
Tan, C.C. (2014). “Ignore, repost or challenge?” The New Sunday Times. http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/ignore-repost-or-challenge-1.515103
Renganayar, C.D. & Arman, A. (2013). “Creating responsible digital citizens.” New Sunday Times. http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/creating-responsible-digital-citizens-1.417477
Tan, C.C. (2013). “Our first ‘social media election’.” The New Straits Times <http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/editorial/our-first-social-media-election-1.271711>
Arman, A. (2012). “Internet’s net result on election results.” The New Straits Times. <http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/internet-s-net-result-on-election-results-1.90336/facebook-comments-7.122684>
Renganayar, C.D. (2011) “Want to watch a movie? Do it on Facebook.” The New Straits Times. http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/27cdfb/Article/art_print
Renganayar, C.D. (2010). “Blogging — so yesterday.” The New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/a26blog-3-2/Article/index_html
Nurjehan Mohamed (2009). “Welcome to the blogosphere.” The New Straits Times, p.Y1.