University of Arkansas

Posting on September 20, 2026


Assistant Professor & Associate Director, Center for Media Ethics and Literacy

Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

Department/School: School of Journalism and Strategic Media

Location: Fayetteville, AR

Start date: August 16, 2027

Position Summary: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. This hire will serve as the Associate Director of the Center for Media Ethics and Literacy, reporting to the director. We are seeking a scholar whose research and teaching align with our faculty cluster in Democracy, Ethics, and Immigration. The successful candidate will combine scholarly excellence with a commitment to public engagement and pedagogical innovation within a rapidly growing School of Journalism. This is a standard nine-month academic appointment.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Center Leadership:

  • Center Administration: Serve as the Associate Director of the center, providing strategic leadership to the College and the

  • Scholarly Production: Produce high-impact scholarly research in the fields of media ethics, literacy and theory, especially news literacy, civic engagement, and democratic

  • Public Engagement: Actively engage and educate the public and industry professionals on ethics and literacy issues in the news cycle through the Center’s website, social media platforms, and other public-facing

  • External Support: Pursue external research support (grants, fellowships, etc.) to advance the strategic goals of the Center, the School, and the

Teaching & Mentoring:

  • Instruction: Teach undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Journalism, utilizing innovative media literacy pedagogy and practices to help students navigate the intersection of theoretical ethics and real-world newsroom challenges, drawing upon professional experience in journalism and

  • Mentorship: Serve as a mentor and advisor to SJSM

  • Committee Service: Serve on thesis and honors committees and participate in departmental, college, and university governance as appropriate for a tenure-track faculty

Faculty hired in this position will have an opportunity to be a part of Fulbright College’s multidisciplinary Democracy as a Public Good cluster hire at the University of Arkansas. Through its Democracy as a Public Good Initiative, the College will advance the University’s land-grant mission by expanding capacity to generate knowledge that informs public understanding, contributes to policy and practice, and connects Arkansas to national and international conversations about societal good. Building on existing campus expertise in issues ranging from norms of democratic communication, free speech, media ethics and literacy, humanitarian governance and civil society, risks that AI poses to democratic governance, immigration, and public law, new faculty members participating in the cluster will advance their research agendas through mentoring and opportunities for collaboration—both with other scholars and with communities in the state—that may result in peer-reviewed publications, external funding, and new approaches to the pressing challenges that democracy faces. The successful candidate for this position will have an opportunity to join a community of scholars committed to confronting major issues, generating new knowledge, and providing research-based solutions that investigate and strengthen democratic culture for people living in Arkansas and beyond.

This is an in-person position. Most university classes are offered face-to-face, and extensive in-person engagement in such activities as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings is essential to advancing student success and departmental effectiveness.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

About the Department:

The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas is fully accredited by ACEJMC, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with concentrations in Broadcast Journalism, Journalism, and Multimedia Journalism, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations. The Media Law course is required for students in both degree programs. SJSM also offers a Master of Arts in Journalism – in total serving more than 950 undergrads and grads in AY25-26. For more information go to https://journalism.uark.edu/.

Duties will include:

  • 40% Teaching or Professional Performance

  • 40% Research/Scholarly and/or Creative Activities

  • 20% Academic Service Activities

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Terminal degree in Journalism, Media Studies, Communication (or a closely related field) from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial

  • A demonstrated record of exceptional teaching and mentoring at the graduate level and/or undergraduate level, especially journalism-related courses.

  • Evidence of, or a demonstrated potential for publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research and a clear vision for Center-led research

  • Demonstrated experience in journalism and reporting, combined with a strong working knowledge of media-industry ethical standards and practices and evidence-based media literacy pedagogy.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Previous experience in the media industry or non-profit leadership

  • Experience in securing external funding and managing research

  • A track record of public-facing communication (e.g., op-eds, public lectures, active media presence).

  • Experience in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in independent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

  • Current knowledge in the field of media ethics, literacy and theory, especially news literacy, civic engagement, and democratic

  • Strong communication and interpersonal

  • Ability to develop media ethics and literacy curriculum and research

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Completed applications received by October 18, 2026, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.

For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee chair, Bobby Foster, at bjf001@uark.edu.

For a complete position announcement and information regarding how to apply, visit https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/details/Assistant-Professor---Associate-Director--Center-for-Media-Ethics-and-Literacy_R0091691-1?q=R0091691&locations=17a66cdad98201f7890cfb48ca00e249.

Applicants must submit:

  • Curriculum vitae

  • Cover letter/letter of application

  • Teaching philosophy statement

  • Research statement

  • List of three professional references (name, title, email address, and phone number) willing to provide letters of recommendation if requested during the application Letters of recommendation will be requested only for candidates selected for interviews.

Review of applications will begin October 18, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Annual Salary/Benefits Package: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

EMPLOYER INFORMATION

The University of Arkansas: Founded in 1871 as a land grant institution, the University of Arkansas is classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the top two percent of universities in the nation with the highest level of research activity. Ten colleges and schools serve more than 27,100 students with more than 200 academic programs. University of Arkansas students earn nationally competitive awards at an impressive rate and represent 50 states and more than 120 countries. The University of Arkansas is committed to providing an educational and work environment in which thought, creativity, and growth are stimulated, and in which individuals are free to realize their full potential.

Fulbright College: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is a vital public good. We provide a transformational education that prepares all students to lead and thrive in a complex world. Our research, scholarship, and creative expression address society’s great challenges and push the boundaries of human understanding. As the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus, with 3 schools, 16 departments, and 43 academic programs and research centers, Fulbright College brings the world to Arkansas and Arkansas to the world.

The Community: Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas campus and is known for its spectacular

views and ample green spaces. Fayetteville is considered one of the country’s finest college towns, and the surrounding northwest Arkansas region is regularly ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Some of the nation’s best outdoor amenities and most spectacular hiking trails are within a short drive of campus.

For more information, visit: https://diversitynwa.com/

Culture in Northwest Arkansas About Fayetteville

About University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Federal law prohibits the University from discriminating on these bases. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University's Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.