Assistant Professor – Media Law & Ethics

California Polytechnic State University
Published
August 23, 2018
Location
San Luis Obispo, California
Category
Job Type

Description

JOURNALISM - The Journalism Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, seeks applications for a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin September 12, 2019. Area of Specialization: Media law and ethics.

Primary duties include teaching media law and ethics. Depending on background and preparation, the successful candidate also will teach and develop courses in one or more areas of the journalism curriculum: global communication, media and society, intellectual property, news reporting and writing, multimedia journalism, data journalism, and emerging technologies.

The ideal candidate will have a combination of education, legal knowledge or experience, professional news media experience, and university-level teaching experience. We are seeking applicants with an earned doctorate in journalism, mass communication or media-related field, or a juris doctorate. We will also consider candidates nearing completion of the doctorate or outstanding candidates with a master's degree and significant professional media experience, including practical knowledge and application of media law. Facility with multiple media platforms is preferred.

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The teaching load averages 12 units per quarter with correspondingly reasonable research/scholarship and service expectations and with a significant reduction in course load in the first one to two years to help establish an active program of research and professional development. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Initial appointment is for two years, subject to renewal.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence and scholarly/creative activity at the university level. The College of Liberal Arts is committed to enhancing the diversity and inclusiveness of the campus community and the curriculum. The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher-scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogical skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly and creative work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are asked to perform service activities at all levels of the University. Faculty should build collaborative relationships across the University and with colleagues at other universities.

Cal Poly strongly values diversity and inclusion, especially in the classroom and among its areas of study. This search will occur at the same time as a university-wide cluster of searches designed to increase curricular coverage of areas related to diversity and inclusion, as well as to promote inclusive teaching strategies across the university. If the successful Journalism: Media Law and Ethics candidate's research overlaps with the area of diversity and inclusion, they will have the opportunity to join and support these university efforts. 

Required Qualifications / Specialized Skills
- Master's degree and relevant professional experience in journalism.
- Currency in First Amendment, intellectual property/copyright, privacy/surveillance and internet law issues.
- Demonstrated effectiveness in college or university-level teaching and evidence of scholarly and/or creative achievement.
- Ability to teach additional courses in one or more of the following areas: global communication, media and society, intellectual property, news reporting and writing, multimedia journalism, data journalism, and emerging technologies. 
Preferred Qualifications / Skills
- Ph.D. in Journalism, Mass Communication or a media-related field, or J.D. with undergraduate degree in Journalism, Mass Communication or related field. 
- Proficiency with current multimedia technologies. 
Special Conditions (Staff)
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

For health and wellbeing, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

Faculty employees who wish to apply for permanent residency will be responsible for retaining an immigration attorney. All filing and attorney's fees will be incurred by the faculty member. 

How to Apply
TO APPLY: Interested applicants should complete the online faculty application at http://WWW.CALPOLYJOBS.ORG and submit it to Requisition #104958. Please upload the following required materials as part of the electronic application: cover letter; current vitae; transcript copy; a Statement of Diversity and Inclusion describing past experience and contributions to diversity and inclusion efforts, and a description of how you will demonstrate a commitment in these areas in teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly (upload under "Other"); teaching portfolio and evidence of teaching effectiveness (with course syllabi and evaluations); and an example(s) of scholarship or creative work. In the cover letter, the applicant should also address the feasibility of conducting a research program within the context of a primarily teaching-oriented undergraduate program. Applicants must also be prepared to provide names and email addresses for a minimum of three professional references when completing the online application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants. A transcript copy may be attached to the application or sent to the address listed for Requisition #104958. Official sealed transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

REVIEW BEGIN DATE: Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2018, and continue until the position is filled. Completed applications (all required materials submitted) received by the REVIEW BEGIN DATE will receive full consideration. 

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