Olivier Nyirubugara joined the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication in April 2012 as lecturer of New Media/Online Journalism. He completed his PhD at the University of Amsterdam in January 2012 with a dissertation titled Surfing the Past: Digital Learner in the History Class (Leiden: 2012, ISBN: 978-90-8890-081-5). He graduated in Digital Media from the University of Leiden (The Netherlands, 2006), and in English from the Université de Bangui (Central African Republic, 2002). Olivier’s research interests are currently about convergence between old and new media, crossmedia and multi-platform journalism, alternative journalism, among others. Olivier also has keen research interest in new media didactics, new media and cultural heirtage, cultural memory, and ICT and Development.

Born in Rwanda, Olivier has been active in journalism since 2002 and has reported for various news media organizations including the United Nations’ humanitarian news and analysis agency (IRIN), Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), and The Economist Intelligence Unit. In recent years, Olivier has trained and coached (online) journalists in community reporting particularly in Africa. Until recently, Olivier also worked as Country Manager for Burkina Faso at the Hague-based International Institute for Communication and Development.