Md Azalanshah Md Syed is an Associate Professor and the current Head of the Department of Media and Communication Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University Malaya. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies (1st class) from University of Malaya; Master of Creative Arts (Screen Production) from Flinders University; and PhD in Media and Communication Studies from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia. In recent years, he has served as Coordinator for the Master of Media Studies Programme (2015–2016; 2024-2026), Head of Department (2017–2021), Editor-in-Chief of Jurnal Pengajian Media Malaysia (2020-2025), Deputy Dean of Value Creation and Enterprise (2022–2024), Deputy Dean of Development (2024–2025), Member of the Malaysia–Korea Research Centre (2021–2024), Coordinator for UMHealth Branding & Promotion (2025) and Coordinator for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (2025–2027). He teaches Media and Audience Studies as well as Screen Production with special interest in documentary filmmaking and pre-production research. His documentary project on Mak Yong (2015) and Sultan Abu Bakar of Johore (2006) was funded by FINAS and Ministry of Arts, Cultural and Heritage. His research interests cover the fields of Asian popular culture and consumption mainly on soap opera/serial television drama, gender issues and Malay studies. Currently, he involves in ongoing research project on lifestyle, vaping addiction and drug abuse among teenagers in Malaysia. His authored and co-authored articles has appeared in various high impacts academic journals. In 2021, his interdisciplinary research team won silver award and award of merit in Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE2021) with their mobile application, CHD self-care that was designed for Coronary Heart Disease patient’s prescribed rehabilitation. His book - Budaya Popular Wanita Melayu dan Naratif Kemodenan Global - won the national award Anugerah Buku Ilmiah Popular Terbaik at the 16th MAPIM–KPT Award Ceremony in 2025. Md Azalanshah has held several key roles, including Coordinator of the Journalism on Campus Programme (2011–2013), an industry collaboration between the New Straits Times, the University of Malaya, and the Ministry of Higher Education. He also served as a Syndicated Screening Panel Member for TV Programme Acquisition at Radio Television Malaysia (RTM). In addition, he is an Associate Member of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum, and has been a consultant for the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur and the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) in Jakarta. His community involvement was highlighted through an industry+NGO collaboration between the Institut Onn Jaafar, Department of Media and Communication Studies and Astro Awani for the Merdeka63 Campaign #KitajagaMalaysia PSA video series in conjunction with Malaysia's 63rd Independence Day celebration. His co-produced short documentary on Malaysian social and cultural issues was shortlisted for screening at the Freedom Film Festival in 2018 and 2019.