Assistant Professor or Instructor of Journalism, School of Communication & Mass Media

Job Details

EMPLOYMENT TERMS:Tenure-track (or term appointment for Instructor—renewable each year)

PRIMARY DUTY: A nine-month teaching position responsible for providing instruction within the School of Communication & Mass Media. The successful candidate will exhibit the ability to use software relevant to the discipline. The new faculty member will engage in a practical, profession-based program of teaching. We are seeking an individual who will become an integral and creative member of a diversified and active mass media faculty.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Teach introductory and advanced journalism courses, including print media writing, design and/or multimedia or sports (extensive experience with Adobe Creative Suite is essential)
2. Facilitate media development from conceptual design through content delivery
3. Advise student organizations dealing with journalism
4. Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Master’s degree in a related field

Certification/License: Missouri driver’s license

Experience: College teaching is preferred, both face-to-face and online

Skills: Ability to use and instruct students on current journalistic techniques and writing standards

WORKING CONDITIONS:Consistent with Mass Media area goals, the candidate should be able to facilitate media development from conceptual design through content delivery. The School of Communication and Mass Media is a collegial, team-based modern academic environment with current video and audio equipment. Each faculty member has an individual office with internet access and is provided a University laptop.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Expectation of advising/assisting student organizations dealing with media students (possibly in conjunction with newspaper/yearbook advisor).

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED:Video production equipment, Adobe Creative Suite software

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to complete essential functions in the classroom and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

COMMUNITY:Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY:With an enrollment of about 9,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.

Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.

Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:Review of application files will begin immediately.

DATE AVAILABLE: August 2026 or January 2027

TO APPLY: Please fill out a Northwest application online by clicking https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/nwmissouri to reach our employment opportunities listing. You will also need to submit a cover letter, resume, contact information for three references, evidence of teaching success/potential, and unofficial transcripts in order for your application materials to be complete. Finalists will be required to submit an electronic portfolio. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1127 or email ewilmes@nwmissouri.edu for more information.

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:

Dr. Matt Walker, School Director

School of Communication & Mass Media

Northwest Missouri State University

Wells Hall 238

800 University Drive

Maryville, MO 64468

Phone: 660-562-1173

Email: matt@nwmissouri.edu