Arts and Culture Professor (Open Rank - Tenured or Professional Practice)

Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Faculty Los Angeles, California

PROFESSOR, JOURNALISM (TENURE OR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE)

School of Journalism

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

We are looking for a visionary faculty colleague to direct a dynamic, diverse program on culture and the arts at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in Los Angeles. Candidates may come from the practice of journalism or from the scholarly community. The successful candidate will be hired to serve as either a tenured associate or full professor or an open rank professor of professional practice.  They must be able to lead a program that reflects the diversity of creative and cultural expression in the city’s changing communities, as well as in our changing world.

Founded in 2008, the culture and arts journalism program at USC Annenberg is a masters’-level degree program that has emphasized an interdisciplinary approach that encourages collaboration with USC’s six arts schools, as well as the Los Angeles creative community.

The areas of arts and culture are open to interpretation, and may include areas of identity, intersections, food, music, arts, dance, theater, and more. The position offers an opportunity to build, grow, and shape an existing program that is open to innovation; to lead creative collaborations within the school and the community; to develop focused curriculum on various areas related to arts, culture, and diverse communities; to work with faculty and students on projects, and to make an impact on campus and on the broader arts and entertainment communities.

The successful candidate will become part of a faculty community that seeks to research and teach across a broad array of platforms, modalities, and genres.  In addition to the teaching expected of all faculty, this position has specific responsibilities for directing a graduate program focused on arts and culture journalism. The program director is encouraged to strengthen the program’s capacity and scope, including extending current collaborations, and creating new partnerships across diverse communities.

Given the nature of the program, the school takes a broad view of the appropriate credentials for this position. The indispensable component, however, is a track record of innovative and consequential contributions to the journalism of culture and the arts, which can be through reportage, criticism, or scholarship.

The ideal candidate will have

--A record of strong leadership, including evidence of mentoring or managing individuals and teams.

--Demonstrated commitment to the training and development of new and diverse voices as well as a record of work serving diverse communities.

--Journalists should have demonstrated intellectual leadership through superlative work that breaks new ground

--Enthusiasm about teaching, and interest in developing new curriculum at all levels of study.

--A track record of successful teaching experience is strongly preferred; however, journalists with minimal teaching experience but a distinguished track record in the field are also encouraged to apply.

An ideal candidate seeking a tenure-track or tenured appointment should demonstrate tenurability as either a scholar or on behalf of their professional body of work.

--Scholars should hold advanced degrees, have publications in a field relevant to culture and  the arts and, preferably, a background in journalism. They will have published at least one important book, preferably by an academic press, which has made a significant contribution to public and scholarly understanding, discussion, and debate.

--Achievements recognized by industry, professional or academic organizations. These may include, but are not limited to, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Peabody Prize, National News and Documentary Emmy Award, or the Columbia-Dupont Award.

An ideal candidate seeking a professional-practice appointment should provide evidence that their experience and expertise demonstrates how they can succeed at a balance of teaching and instruction-related and professional practice activities as a significant aspect of their appointment.

--The candidate should have a body of work in their field relevant to culture and the arts and, preferably, a background in journalism.

--Their achievements recognized by industry or professional organizations

The criteria for the appointment of full-time RTPC faculty members in the School of Journalism will be excellence in all the categories of performance that are deemed essential for the appointment under consideration.

Applicants should send a letter describing their background, interests, areas of expertise, and vision for this position. Also include an up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae, a small sample of their professional or scholarly work, and the names of three references through USC’s job site, http://jobs.usc.edu

Candidates whose completed applications are received by September 30, 2021 will receive full consideration. Applications received later will be considered until the position is filled.

USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The University particularly encourages members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply.