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

The Journalism Program at Wake Forest University invites applications for a permanent, non-tenure-track, teaching professional position to cover three different 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 candidates’ focus area.

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.

Job 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
• someone with 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 (e.g., Vox Media, The Verge, ProPublica, etc.)—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. (Please include 3-5 work samples that demonstrate the range of your experience and skills. For written materials, PDFs are preferred. For audio and video, we accept most common file formats as well as links.)
• 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.

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 that teach the skills and the subjects they will need to practice journalism in an ever-changing news environment. The Program is dedicated to educating students in the discipline and values of an independent press and its foundational role in a free society. Students learn and practice truthful, verified, and comprehensive journalism by reporting and producing stories that are fair and accurate in a range of media for the public interest. They also practice reporting across differences, finding a range of voices, and understanding bias as they develop the cultural competence required of journalists. Students experience the excitement and importance of pursuing unique stories and develop an abiding appreciation of the necessity and value of independent journalism.

The Journalism minor consists of 18 credits, beginning with the gateway course JOU 270, Introduction to Journalism. JOU 278, News Literacy, is a second required course and can be taken at any time. Students take 12 hours of elective credit, which can be drawn from upper-level JOU courses or a list of courses in other departments across the College. Students may take Journalism courses for credit in such departments 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, is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount.

As an academic community, Wake Forest University seeks the enlightenment and freedom that come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindedness and discourse. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and cultures as it strives toward a society in which goodwill, respect, and empathy prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust.

The University today enrolls about 5,400 undergraduates and 3,800 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus in Winston-Salem, NC. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world-class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. More information about the University can be found at www.wfu.edu.

Equal 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.