Assistant Professor of Practice or Assistant Teaching Professor, Journalism Prog

Overview

Assistant Professor of Practice or Assistant Teaching Professor, Journalism Program (R0008131)

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Open Date: Sep 04, 2025

Close Date: Oct 31, 2025

Job Description

The Journalism Program at Wake Forest University invites applications for a permanent, non-tenure-track, teaching professional position to cover three kinds of courses: 1) introductory courses on the foundations of journalism (including reporting, news and feature writing, and visual and audio storytelling), 2) critical courses analyzing the profession, and 3) higher level courses within the candidate’s focus area (see below).

The faculty member will teach six courses per academic year (on a 9-month basis), with renewable two-year contracts and opportunities for promotion and longer contracts. Teaching professionals are eligible for benefits available to all regular, full-time faculty, including professional development funds and access to competitive grants administered by the university, which may be used to support projects in journalism.

Qualifications

We welcome candidates from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds who can contribute to a dynamic, forward-looking journalism program. The ideal candidate would either be:

• a journalist with 7+ years of experience in the industry with a demonstrated history of high-quality professionalism and news judgment
• a master’s degree or higher in journalism or related field with a 3+ year history of high-quality professionalism and news judgment

Note: Teaching experience is preferred but not required.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose work engages with one or more of the following areas:

• Digital Journalism: Expertise in emerging digital platforms, graphic design and production, multimedia storytelling, audience engagement, or social media strategy.
• Specialized Reporting: Expertise in a specific domain of journalism such as investigative reporting, data journalism, broadcast journalism, business and financial reporting, environmental journalism, editorial writing and journalistic commentaries, or science communication.
• Media Leadership and Innovation: Experience in founding, leading, or managing contemporary media organizations—particularly those that have shaped digital journalism practices—with an emphasis on editorial strategy, innovation, sustainability, and audience development.
• Media Ethics and Contemporary Issues: A strong foundation in journalism ethics, press freedom, misinformation/disinformation, algorithmic bias, or the role of journalism in democracy.

Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to high-impact teaching, professional and critical engagement, and preparing students for a rapidly evolving media landscape. We especially welcome applicants who are eager to contribute to curriculum development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student mentoring, including at the student newspaper The Old Gold & Black. Pursuing and producing independent journalism projects—whether through writing, audio, or video—is encouraged.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants are invited to submit the following materials through Interfolio or https://hr.wfu.edu/careers/:

• a cover letter that outlines interest in and qualifications for the position
• a CV
• a statement that describes the applicant’s approach to teaching students across a wide and varied spectrum of values, identities, skills, and professional ambitions, as well as their experience leading undergraduate courses and any future teaching interests
• a statement that describes the applicant’s professional work along with any relevant scholarly or creative productions
• Work samples (3–5) that demonstrate the range of experience and skills. For written materials, PDFs are preferred. For audio and video, most common file formats or links are acceptable.
• Two references
• Letters of recommendation and evidence of teaching experience may be requested from applicants who advance in the search process

Questions regarding the search may be directed to Ivan Weiss, Chair of the Search Committee, at weissij@wfu.edu.

Due date: For full consideration, complete applications must be submitted by October 31, 2025 at 5pm.

About the Journalism Program

The Journalism Program offers an interdisciplinary minor that grounds students in the principles and practice of verified, independent, and accountable journalism through required core courses and electives. The program emphasizes an independent press and its role in a free society, teaching students to report across differences and to develop cultural competence as journalists.

The Journalism minor consists of 18 credits, including JOU 270 Introduction to Journalism and JOU 278 News Literacy, with 12 hours of elective credit drawn from upper-level JOU courses or cross-listed courses in other departments. Students may take Journalism courses for credit in departments such as Communication, Biology, Writing, Philosophy, Politics, and African American Studies, or for general elective credit.

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University, founded in 1834, combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University emphasizes the teacher-scholar ideal and aims to foster exceptional teaching, fundamental research, and student-faculty engagement both in and out of the classroom.

Wake Forest seeks to provide a safe, inclusive community and maintains the motto Pro Humanitate. The university rejects hatred and bigotry and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust. The Reynolda campus is in Winston-Salem, NC, with about 5,400 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. For more information, visit www.wfu.edu.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background checks for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability, and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.