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Knight Chair in Visual Journalism

Employer
University of Georgia
Location
Athens, Georgia, United States
Salary
Competitive Salary
Date posted
Aug 9, 2024
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Job Details


Position Summary

The University of Georgia’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication invites applications for a full-time, tenured faculty position—at the rank of associate professor or professor—to begin in August 2025 as the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism.

The Knight Chair will make and strengthen connections around visual journalism within the college, as well as between the college and industry—and will enhance the college’s public visibility in visual journalism.

The Knight Chair will develop courses and/or programs focused on leadership, management, and entrepreneurship in visual journalism.
The Knight Chair will teach at least one class per semester, likely in the undergraduate journalism curriculum, with graduate classes a possibility.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Screening of applications will begin September 16, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a CV/resume, links to work samples with explanations of their role in creating the samples, a list of three references, and a cover letter that includes a vision statement about the role of visual-journalism education and that addresses relevant experience and an ability to work with individuals from differing backgrounds. Questions may be addressed to Professor Vicki Michaelis, search committee chair, at vickim@uga.edu.

Posting Details

Posting Number

F2063P

Working Title

Knight Chair in Visual Journalism

Department

Grady-Journalism Department

About the University of Georgia

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education ( https://www.uga.edu/ ). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

About the College/Unit/Department

The college is home to the National Press Photographers Association and administers the NPPA’s annual Best of Photojournalism Competition. The college routinely partners with the NPPA on training programs for visual journalists in the field, and it is home to the Peabody Awards.

The college offers a variety of classes in photo and video journalism, and it operates multiple television news shows out of its broadcast studio, where students cover everything from politics to religion to sports. The college also has a multimedia laboratory news website that features student work with photos as well as short- and long-form videos.

The college’s faculty members conduct research exploring a range of topics and issues in visual journalism, including: how images are made, selected, and interpreted; how visual journalists define themselves as they seek legitimacy and job security; and the experiences of marginalized and underrepresented journalists, including those who work in the visual space.

The college also houses several entities that would be well positioned to collaborate with the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism, among them the Cox International Center, the New Media Institute, the Carmical Sports Media Institute, the Digital Media Attention and Cognition Lab, and the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership.

In 2021, the college rescued a weekly newspaper, The Oglethorpe Echo, which today operates as a nonprofit news organization staffed by faculty and students. The Echo serves a rural county east of Athens and offers an ideal test bed for experimentation in visual journalism. Moreover, the Journalism Innovation Lab runs a partnership with the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters that places journalism students in local newsrooms and is another viable outlet for visual training and outreach.

In recent years, the college, through its Carmical Sports Media Institute, has partnered with The Associated Press to supplement the agency’s on-the-ground written and visual coverage of the Summer Paralympic Games and the Women’s World Cup, with work produced by credentialed student journalists published worldwide.

The college values diversity in experience, background, and research perspectives, and it is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for teaching and learning.

College/Unit/Department website

Posting Type

External

Retirement Plan

Employment Type

Employee

Benefits Eligibility

Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Anticipated Start Date

08/01/2025

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date

08/09/2024

Job Closing Date

Open until filled

Yes

Location of Vacancy

Athens Area

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .

Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title

Open Rank

FLSA

Faculty Rank

Open Rank (Tenure Track)

Contract Type

Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status

Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

A master’s degree or above (e.g., a terminal degree like an MFA or a PhD) is required.

Additional Requirements

Candidates for this position must have a substantial prior record of working in photo or video journalism, or both, with an emphasis on multimedia publishing.

Candidates must demonstrate:
  • success in producing compelling visual journalism in collaborative environments
  • experience in coaching, mentoring, and/or developing visual storytellers
  • knowledge and practice of ethical guidelines in visual journalism
  • proficiency with a range of tools needed to create compelling visual journalism
  • awareness of evolving technology and industry practices and their impact on visual storytelling
  • experience with modern workflows in visual journalism
  • an understanding of key business aspects of visual journalism, including contracts, copyright, and brand-building
  • experience with developing and executing budgets for visual projects
Candidates who hold a master’s degree but no terminal degree must document exceptional professional accomplishments and be approved for a terminal-degree exception before hire.

Candidates for the rank of associate or full professor who have not been tenured at a prior institution must be approved for tenure on appointment by the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

Please see UGA and Promotion and Tenure unit criteria for academic rank faculty at https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/promotion-tenure-evaluation/academic-rank/

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

It is preferred that candidates for the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism have experience in leading visual-storytelling teams and/or projects.

Experience in producing visual stories about diverse subjects and for diverse audiences also is preferred, as is experience in coaching, mentoring, and/or developing visual storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

It is preferred that candidates have familiarity with grant writing and with developing partnerships between entities like news organizations and trade associations.

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust?

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?

No

Does this position require a P-Card?

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?

No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?

No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)

Yes

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website .

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website .

Duties/Responsibilities

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume/CV
  2. Cover Letter
Optional Documents
  1. Portfolio


Company

UGA Emp Desc 1

As the birthplace of public higher education in America, the University of Georgia has inspired generations of entrepreneurs, researchers, and citizens to change the world since its founding in 1785.

The University of Georgia, a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. Its motto, “to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things,” reflects the University’s integral and unique role in the conservation and enhancement of the state’s and nation’s intellectual, cultural, and environmental heritage.

The University of Georgia shares with the other research universities of the University System of Georgia the following core characteristics:

  • a statewide responsibility and commitment to excellence and academic achievements having national and international recognition;
  • a commitment to excellence in a teaching/learning environment dedicated to serving a diverse and well-prepared student body, to promoting high levels of student achievement, and to providing appropriate academic support services;
  • a commitment to excellence in research, scholarship, and creative endeavors that are focused on organized programs to create, maintain, and apply new knowledge and theories; that promote instructional quality and effectiveness; and that enhance institutionally relevant faculty qualifications;
  • a commitment to excellence in public service, economic development, and technical assistance activities designed to address the strategic needs of the state of Georgia along with a comprehensive offering of continuing education designed to meet the needs of Georgia’s citizens in life-long learning and professional education;
  • a wide range of academic and professional programming at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

With its statewide mission and core characteristics, the University of Georgia endeavors to prepare the University community and the state for full participation in the global society of the twenty-first century. Through its programs and practices, it seeks to foster the understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry. It further provides for cultural, ethnic, gender, and racial diversity in the faculty, staff, and student body. The University is committed to preparing the University community to appreciate the critical importance of a quality environment to an interdependent global society.

 

UGA Emp Desc 2

Company info
Website

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