Assistant Professor - Digital Journalism - Tenure Track
Howard University

Job Info

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Howard University

Job Description

Department: Media, Journalism and Film, Cathy Hughes School of Communications (CHSOC)

Reports to: Chairperson, Department of Media, Journalism and Film

Basic Function: Teach courses in digital journalism and storytelling across platforms, conduct academic research and/or creative productions, serve on university committees as assigned, and provide service to the national and/or international communications community. Also, plan, direct, edit and publish the work of student journalists in the school's media outlets.

Nature and Scope: The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in digital storytelling as it relates to visual journalism (including audio, photos and video), long-form and short-form journalism, innovative techniques in news production and storytelling. The successful candidate should demonstrate an ability to connect technology to the enhancement of story experiences for users and viewers of media. They will also undertake academic research or creative productions, and service on various departmental, school-wide, and university-wide committees. The successful candidate will help teach students to think creatively and to innovate. Students will learn how to integrate content and technology, regardless of the platform, and they'll learn how to promote that work and themselves.

Principal Accountabilities: Faculty member shall be evaluated annually in four key areas research/creative production, teaching, service and professional development.

Description of Position: Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated ability to train and mentor visual storytellers and a track record of early adoption of new technologies. Particular expertise in conceiving, creating, delivering and promoting rich multimedia content, especially audio, video and photo, for journalistic purposes, for all platforms, and for all types of media outlets, is essential. Demonstrated interest in immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality and other cutting-edge technologies as tools for journalistic storytelling is a plus.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in the theory and practice of digital journalism with a focus on mobile reporting, social media and entrepreneurial journalism; demonstrate an ability to connect technology to the enhancement of story experiences for users and viewers of media; advise an on-campus media organization, participate in committee work, and assist in nurturing a culture of innovation in journalism while pursuing creative and professional development of their own.

The department is especially interested in candidates with experience teaching digital journalism and/or emerging media reporting, as is a track record of academic scholarship on emerging media platforms or social media journalism. They must have the ability to teach in at least one other area of course offerings in MJF, including courses that address critical issues related to the history, theory, practice and policy of public media. Candidates should also be willing and able to write grant proposals, be aware of emerging industry trends, and should be able to supervise and critique portfolios/websites. Where appropriate, the successful candidates will also have opportunities to teach graduate courses in the Communications, Culture and Media Studies Program.

We seek a candidate who can work collegially and keep the department at the forefront of academic and media innovation. Preferred candidates will be able to identify new
opportunities in social media, interactive news presentation, and understand analytics and
data visualization. Highly desired are previous experience with news production in digital/mobile media and a willingness to innovate. They will also have the ability to supervise student reporters, anchors, producers and videographers working on deadline or on in-depth projects across platforms.
This full-time, tenure track position at the level of Assistant Professor begins August 2025.
Qualifications: The candidate should have master's or terminal degree and a strong record
of professional digital journalism achievement, including awards and other recognition. Prior
university-level teaching is preferred. Extensive professional connections and interest in seeking sponsorship of student productions preferred. Candidates must demonstrate excellent teaching skills and a strong potential to be a thought leader and gain national visibility in their field. That experience should include:

• Classroom teaching, grading, advising Experience in designing courses and syllabi Thorough knowledge of editorial/ (reporting/producing) and operational/technical aspects of digital journalism production Experience with HTML, CSS, other authoring tools Experience with WordPress and other content management systems Experience with Google analytics and other audience measuring tools Experience with editing software such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, ProTools, Avid Media Composer

• Strong professional connections and interest in seeking sponsorship of student productions.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit:
* Cover Letter
* Curriculum Vitae (including email addresses)
* Statement of teaching philosophy and vision for the future of digital journalism
* Teaching evaluation summaries
* Portfolio (sent as URL to samples of relevant creative work) and/or samples of
scholarly writing (productions, published essays, convention papers, etc.)
* Names of three (3) academic and/or professional references
Please submit these materials electronically to:

Jennifer Thomas, Associate Professor

Search Committee

Department of Media, Journalism, and Film

Jennifer.thomas@howard.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To
ensure full consideration, please submit application materials by Nov. 22, 2024
The Department of Media, Journalism and Film in the Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications provides a professional and supportive scholarly environment informed by the African American experience in which students learn to become exemplary practitioners, leaders and entrepreneurs who serve the profession and society. The department strives to graduate students empowered with the skills and tools necessary to understand and address social, political, economic and cultural injustices, particularly involving African Americans and other people of color.
For more information about the Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the Department of Media, Journalism and Film, please visit our
website: https://communications.howard.edu/
Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a federally chartered, private, doctoral university,
classified as a high research activity institution. With an enrollment of more than 10,000
students, its undergraduate, graduate, professional and joint degree programs span more
than 120 areas of study within 13 schools and colleges. Howard is recognized by the United
States Department of Education as one of the nation's HBCUs, or Historically Black College
or University.

Mission
Howard University is a comprehensive, research-oriented, historically Black private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to promising Black students. Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, committed to the development of distinguished and compassionate graduates and to the quest for solutions to human and social problems in the United States and throughout the world.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not be construed as a contract for employment.

EEO/AA Policy

Howard University prohibits discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Code of the District of Columbia, including the following: discrimination based on handicap status or discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or political affiliation.

Updated: Oct. 18, 2024

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