Assistant Teaching Professor in Data Journalism

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications seeks an outstanding faculty member for an Assistant Teaching Professor in Data Journalism position in the journalism department starting in August 2026. We seek candidates with deep professional expertise in data journalism and a demonstrated record of data-driven reporting in professional newsroom settings. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience exploring, cleaning, analyzing and documenting data — and translating that work into stories that inform and engage a public audience. Areas of teaching interest may include (but are not limited to): computational methods for investigative reporting; data analysis, statistical literacy and visualization for storytelling; working with large datasets, APIs and public records; data journalism workflows and systems in professional newsrooms; algorithmic accountability and transparency reporting; or related areas that advance the ethical and effective use of data in journalism. Strong candidates will be fluent in tools common to data journalism practice — such as Python, R, or SQL for data analysis; and structured, well-documented code workflows. They will model a critical and constructive relationship with data, approaching datasets with skepticism rather than cynicism, and integrating data analysis with traditional people-reporting across diverse communities. We are especially interested in candidates who bring a track record of teaching data skills across skill levels — from introductory data literacy to advanced computational methods — and who have experience helping colleagues and students develop their own practice. Candidates should have a Master's degree or higher in a relevant field by August 2026 and demonstrate significant professional experience as a data journalist, including reporting, editing, or leading data teams in a newsroom environment. Our department's award-winning programs in sports journalism and news create an ideal environment for research and teaching at the intersection of data and journalism practice. In addition to teaching and research responsibilities, there are opportunities to collaborate with faculty and programs in the department and across the Bellisario Media Center, including the Curley Center for Sports Journalism, the News Lab and Centre County Report. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to building and strengthening the data journalism infrastructure of our student-run newsrooms and help shape how the next generation of journalists works with data responsibly and innovatively.

Requirements

Deep professional expertise in data journalism
Demonstrated record of data-driven reporting in professional newsroom settings
Hands-on experience exploring, cleaning, analyzing and documenting data
Translating data work into stories that inform and engage a public audience
Fluent in tools common to data journalism practice (e.g., Python, R, SQL for data analysis)
Structured, well-documented code workflows
Ability to model a critical and constructive relationship with data
Ability to approach datasets with skepticism rather than cynicism
Ability to integrate data analysis with traditional people-reporting across diverse communities
Track record of teaching data skills across skill levels (introductory to advanced)
Experience helping colleagues and students develop their own practice
Master's degree or higher in a relevant field by August 2026
Significant professional experience as a data journalist, including reporting, editing, or leading data teams in a newsroom environment

Responsibilities

Teaching data journalism
Research responsibilities
Collaborating with faculty and programs in the department and across the Bellisario Media Center
Contributing to building and strengthening the data journalism infrastructure of student-run newsrooms
Shaping how the next generation of journalists works with data responsibly and innovatively