Director of the Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media

Title: Director of the Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University seeks a senior faculty member to launch and direct a new Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media based in Los Angeles.

The Cronkite School is a global leader in mass communications scholarship and education committed to exploring and expanding diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the media industries. The director would formalize that commitment by launching and building the Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media, and leading its multidisciplinary research. The director will strategize and activate a progressive research agenda; advance the Center’s internal and external profiles; lead and advance funding initiatives; and develop partnerships that bridges the academy and industry.

The ideal candidate is a recognized scholar with evidence of leadership experience and a vast network of media scholars. Candidates must also demonstrate a strong research agenda that advances knowledge within mass communication, and demonstrate the capacity to generate funding and contribute research commensurate with an R1 research institution. The Cronkite School seeks candidates with research interests across mass communication, but is especially interested in scholarship in mis/disinformation, media representation, audience behavior, workplace diversity and related areas.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 12-month appointment with an academic rank of “associate professor” or “professor.” Applicants must have a relevant terminal degree at the time of appointment.

Essential Duties

• Launch and lead the Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media, including developing the center’s strategic plan and budget.
• Direct the Center’s collective research agenda and lead multidisciplinary research that advances the Center’s knowledge development, and internal and external profiles.
• Lead the identification and development of funding opportunities, including grant writing/administration and funder relationships.
• Work with Cronkite researchers and interdisciplinary scholars to inspire participation in and champion contributions to the Center, and recruit new Center faculty and external scholar-collaborators.
• Developing industry partnerships to advance research that bridges the academy and industry.
• Develop and distribute research-based communication (white papers, digital content, enewsletter, video) to promote the center’s scholarship and position it as a knowledge hub.
• Conduct impactful research in keeping with the rigors of an R1 institution, and advance a relevant research agenda.
• Teach one course in each of the Fall and Spring semesters (two courses per academic year). Foster a learning culture that inspires students with relevant content, tools and techniques.
• Engage in service to students and the Cronkite School, including student mentorship, committee work and guest speaking.
• Serve as a disciplinary thought leader, proactively staying abreast of new digital marketing techniques and technology updates; curating exemplars of superior professional and scholarly work; and highlighting superb student work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must have a doctoral degree in journalism, mass communication, media studies, or other relevant discipline at the time of appointment, or a terminal degree in another field with a record of published scholarship related to the focus of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrable professional focus in diversity, equity and inclusion
• A record of scholarly and nonacademic publication that advances knowledge in media, culture and diversity, equity and inclusion within them
• Experience leading multiple scholars in and beyond a single institution to advance a research agenda Experience in strategic planning, budgeting and fundraising for research initiatives
• A network of media scholars, practitioners and experts who can advise on the field
• Experience teaching communications topics, technologies and/or techniques at the undergraduate or graduate level
• ​​Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in both professional practices and as a contributor to an inclusive working and learning environment

About the Cronkite School

 The Cronkite School is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier mass communications programs. Rooted in the time-honored values that characterize its namesake—accuracy, responsibility, integrity—the school fosters excellence and ethics among students as they master the professional skills they need to succeed in the digital media world of today and tomorrow.

 Located on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus in the heart of the nation’s fifth-largest city, the School has 70 full-time faculty members, more than 100 full-time professional staff and annual resources of more than $40 million. The Cronkite faculty is made up of award-winning professional journalists, strategic communications specialists and world-class media scholars. Cronkite professors include five Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, digital media thought leaders, top TV producers and correspondents, major metropolitan newspaper editors and strategic communications experts.

 More than 2,500 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students are enrolled at Cronkite, in person and online, preparing for careers in journalism, strategic media and related communications fields. Of the undergraduate residential student population, more than 60% come from out-of-state and more than 37% are students of color. The retention rate consistently exceeds 90%, and Cronkite students regularly lead the country in national competitions.

 About Arizona State University

 ASU is one of the largest and most innovative public research universities in the country, undertaking a bold reinvention of higher education as a New American University. With four campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, it serves more than 127,000 students on campus and online. For the past six years, it has been ranked No. 1 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

 In the last decade, ASU has developed numerous new programs and units that bridge disciplinary boundaries to enable the exploration and discovery of new knowledge, while developing practical solutions to serve Arizona and the world at large. The university has strong and simultaneous commitments to educational access, excellence, and impact, and assumes significant responsibility for the cultural, social and economic vitality of its surrounding communities.

About the ASU California Center

At ASU’s flagship Los Angeles campus, students can access internships and learning opportunities only available in a global city, and world-class faculty and innovative media projects only available at the Cronkite School. The California Center hosts the L.A. Content Studio, where students build their own content brands and produce content for existing brands, and Cronkite News‘ L.A. Bureau, where digital and broadcast students create award-winning news and sports content. The building is also home to Cronkite’s MS in Digital Strategy degree program—a graduate degree that nurtures digital marketing leaders—and the MA in Narrative and Emerging Media, which develops storytellers specializing in AR, VR and emerging media techniques.

The heart of ASU’s California Center campus is the flagship Herald Examiner Building, located at 11th Street and Broadway. Commissioned by William Randolph Hearst and designed by architect Julia Morgan, the building has stood in downtown L.A. since 1914. For decades, the building housed the Hearst Corporation’s Herald Examiner newspaper; now, it’s home to the L.A. Content Studio, Cronkite News’ L.A. Bureau, as well as video/audio editing bays, a broadcast studio, a 3D studio, classrooms, a two-story event space and more.

Application Instructions

Submission materials must include:

1. A cover letter stating qualifications
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Contact information (name, address, email, telephone number) for three professional references
4. A diversity statement that addresses their experience and commitment to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion over the course of their careers and outlines how they would advance DEI goals at the Cronkite School. The statement should be no longer than 500 words.

The applicant’s name should appear in each uploaded file name. Cover letters may be addressed to the Search Committee Chair, Dawn Gilpin Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair at: dgilpin@asu.edu

Application deadline is May 31, 2023. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Applicants must apply online at:  http://apply.interfolio.com/124071

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement. A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

(See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf  You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements - Arizona State University is a federal contractor and subject to federal regulations which may require you to produce a record of a COVID-19 vaccination. For questions about medical or religious accommodations, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s webpage.