Assistant Professor of Social and Digital Media in Journalism

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The School of Journalism and Strategic Media (SJSM) in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Social and Digital Media in Journalism to start in August 2027. This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment. SJSM seeks a scholar of Social and Digital Media with familiarity of the professional practice of social and digital media in journalism. SJSM is particularly interested in candidates whose areas of focus expand into any of the following: strategic communication, digital and platform cultures, media audiences and engagement, online communities, influencers and creators, digital advertising and public relations, algorithms and platforms, artificial intelligence and media, misinformation, or the social and cultural implications of digital media. The successful candidate will maintain an active program of research and/or scholarly/creative activity and contribute to the School's undergraduate and graduate curricula. Teaching responsibilities may include existing courses in social and digital media as well as courses in the candidate's areas of expertise across the School's journalism, multimedia, and advertising/public relations programs. The successful candidate will have opportunities to develop new courses that complement and expand the School's curriculum in social and digital media. The position carries a 2-2 teaching load and includes requirements for research and service. Faculty hired in this position will have an opportunity to be a part of Fulbright College’s multidisciplinary Democracy as a Public Good cluster hire at the University of Arkansas. Through its Democracy as a Public Good Initiative, the College will advance the University’s land-grant mission by expanding capacity to generate knowledge that informs public understanding, contributes to policy and practice, and connects Arkansas to national and international conversations about societal good. Building on existing campus expertise in issues ranging from norms of democratic communication, free speech, media ethics and literacy, humanitarian governance and civil society, risks that AI poses to democratic governance, immigration, and public law, new faculty members participating in the cluster will advance their research agendas through mentoring and opportunities for collaboration—both with other scholars and with communities in the state—that may result in peer-reviewed publications, external funding, and new approaches to the pressing challenges that democracy faces. The successful candidate for this position will have an opportunity to join a community of scholars committed to confronting major issues, generating new knowledge, and providing research-based solutions that investigate and strengthen democratic culture for people living in Arkansas and beyond. This is an in-person position. Most university classes are offered face-to-face, and extensive in-person engagement in such activities as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings is essential to advancing student success and departmental effectiveness. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Requirements

• A terminal degree in journalism or a media-related field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment.
• At least two years of professional, research, or relevant experience in digital journalism, digital and social media advertising, and public relations.
• Evidence of, or a demonstrated potential for, an active research agenda and/or scholarly/creative activity related to social media, digital media, or related areas of media and communication.
• A demonstrated ability to develop and deliver course content related to social and digital media in face-to-face and/or online environments.
• Proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

• At least five years professional journalistic experience in digital and social journalism, digital and social media strategies for news and/or strategic media, social media influencing.
• Significant experience in the fast-changing world of social media and related digital media.
• Experience with online teaching and educational technology, including in writing Open Education Resource texts to be used across course sections by other faculty.
• A strong record of successful publication and external funding in the thematic and/or methodological areas of the position focus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active program of research and/or scholarly/creative activity.
• Contribute to the School's undergraduate and graduate curricula.
• Teach existing courses in social and digital media as well as courses in the candidate's areas of expertise across the School's journalism, multimedia, and advertising/public relations programs.
• Develop new courses that complement and expand the School's curriculum in social and digital media.
• Conduct research and service activities.
• Engage in extensive in-person activities such as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings.
• Create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Benefits

• University contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• Immediate leave accrual
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree