Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability

Job description

Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation's first public university, serves North Carolina, the United States, and the world through teaching, research, and public service. We embrace an unwavering commitment to excellence as one of the world's great research universities.

The Hussman School affirms that hiring and tenure and promotion decisions should be the purview of faculty and appropriate university bodies. The School is reviewing donor guidelines to stress the importance of academic freedom from inappropriate outside influence.

We are a diverse, collaborative group of researchers who address questions in media processes and production; legal and regulatory issues in communication; media uses and effects; health communication; and political, social, and strategic communication. We are also diverse in methodological approaches and welcome scholars who bridge methodological and theoretical traditions. We have strong interdisciplinary partners with the School of Information and Library Science and Gillings School of Global Public Health. With the School of Law we operate the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy, which includes a graduate-level dual degree program. We also have ties with Computer Science, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies, and other departments and schools at the university.

In addition to its robust undergraduate programs in journalism, advertising, and public relations, graduate program offerings within the School include the Ph.D. in Media and Communication, the M.A. in Media and Communication, the online M.A. in Digital Communication, and a post-baccalaureate certificate program in digital communication.

The Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media supports local news organizations through applied research on economic sustainability, entrepreneurship and the link between informed communities and democracy. CISLM has published groundbreaking research around news deserts and hosts the UNC-Knight Foundation Table Stakes Newsroom Initiative. CISLM is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, UNC's Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost, and the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Our School is committed to diversity and inclusion, which we consider in all aspects of our work as we prepare students for an increasingly complex world. We welcome candidates whose work (research/creative, teaching, service, etc.) supports those values. We request that candidates submit a diversity statement to describe how their teaching, advising, and professional activities will enrich our academic community. Applicants who identify as members of minoritized/marginalized groups can seek information and resources from our School's diversity committee (), as well as from the University Office for Diversity and Inclusion (). Position Summary
The Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is searching for an individual with a distinguished professional reputation in community news and its economic sustainability to serve as the Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability. The successful candidate will contribute in and out of the classroom on the challenges and opportunities around the desirability, feasibility and sustainability of news and information that empowers diverse communities.

The Knight Professor will be a full professor with tenure upon hire, pending approval of School and University committees. It is a nine-month position. The position will work closely with the School's Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media.

The chair will teach two courses at the undergraduate or master's level each semester and will be encouraged to develop new courses to diversify the curriculum. Those courses should introduce and immerse journalism students in practices that are showing promise in community newsrooms nationally and internationally, such as membership, solutions journalism, collaborative journalism, and engagement journalism. The ideal chair will develop courses that reflect the fast-moving conditions in local newsrooms. The Knight Chair may also be required to teach existing core undergraduate courses as needs arise.

The chair will build industry relationships to identify internships, host knowledgeable guest speakers with diverse professional perspectives and serve as a mentor and coach to Carolina's future news leaders, among them members of CABJ, NAHJ, NLGJA, Black Ink and Carolina Ahora.

In addition to teaching, the successful candidate will convene meetings, monitor industry developments, initiate and/or collaborate on studies that advance sustainability in local news that best incorporates the diversity of these communities. The chair will actively engage with media organizations, trade associations, foundations, government entities, non-profits and others working to ensure the future of local news. The chair will be an advocate of new approaches and champion of the importance of local news to a thriving, inclusive democracy. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to understand complex and rapid changes in technology and society and engage with communities to determine which journalism solutions are fads and which tools and techniques are most likely to foster engaged communities and an informed democracy. Experience working with underserved news audiences and fostering newsroom diversity is required of candidates for the Knight Chair. Applicants should have a demonstrated history of public speaking, explanatory writing and professional mentorship. Applicants must show an ability and desire to work with a diverse student body in an academic setting.

A master's degree or terminal degree is strongly preferred. An earned terminal degree may be substituted by relevant professional experience or by a combination of education and experience. Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
The ideal candidate will have substantial professional experience, including experience leading revenue, audience engagement or product development efforts at a news organization. Teaching experience is preferred but not required. Special Instructions
Please apply online at and upload the following documents:
Curriculum vitae; Cover letter highlighting qualifications; Diversity statement describing how your teaching, advising, and professional activities will enrich our academic community. (upload as ?Other document?); Research and/or professional activities statement (optional);Representative recent publications (optional, upload as ?Other Document 2?); Teaching philosophy statement (optional). As part of the application, you will be asked to provide a list of names and contact information for 4 to 5 professional references. If selected for an interview, your professional references will be contacted with a request to provide a letter of recommendation.

The search will remain open until filled, however, for optimal consideration, application materials should be received by December 15, 2021. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran. Media Job Board. Keywords: Program Chair, Location: Chapel Hill, NC - 27515