The Department of Journalism and Creative Media in the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama, invites applications for a nine-month tenure-track assistant professor in sports media to begin August 2027.
Sports media represents one of the most dynamic and consequential areas in contemporary communication — and this position is designed for a scholar ready to help define what that field becomes. The college brings existing faculty expertise, research infrastructure, and institutional momentum to support that work. The ideal candidate will develop a robust research agenda around sports media that complements the nationally recognized scholarship being advanced in the college, and develop courses in burgeoning sports areas. This could include, but is not limited to, topics such as the following:
- Creator economy and athlete-led media
- AI in sports media
- Streaming fragmentation and live sports
- Digital fandom
- Sports gambling
- The changing sports journalism ecosystem
- Sports and public health
- Sports and societal change
Furthermore, applicants must display an interest in developing an ambitious interdisciplinary research agenda in sports media and communication, pursing external grants and other funding, and disseminating scholarly work in premier academic and industry venues.
The successful hire will teach two courses each fall and spring semester, which will include undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. level-courses in sports media. Additionally, applicants are expected to contribute to the Beyond Sports Initiative, an academic research collaborative in which scholars work with leaders in the sports industry to identify, investigate and influence issues important to the field.
Minimum Qualifications
- Terminal degree (MFA or Ph.D.) in a communication or sports-media related field completed by the appointment start date. ABDs at the time of application will be considered.
- Demonstrated research or creative productivity in sports media or a related communication field, with evidence of an emerging scholarly agenda appropriate to the assistant professor rank.
- Record of teaching effectiveness in communication-related fields
- Commitment to working collaboratively with colleagues from different backgrounds and disciplines, engaging students with varied needs and interests, and preparing the next generation of media professionals to effectively serve all members of their communities.
- Interest in contributing to the college’s Beyond Sports Initiative.
Preferred Qualifications (considered after all minimum qualifications are met)
- Experience with applying for external grants/extramural funding.
- Potential to develop and teach courses connecting sports media with the applicant’s primary research area.
- Interest in advising college-wide sports media student organizations (e.g., National Sports Media Association, Association for Women in Sports Media, Associated Press Sports Editors).
Application Process
To apply, please provide the following:
- Cover letter highlighting how your research or creative work, teaching, and service can contribute as a faculty leader in sports media
- Curriculum vitae
- Names and contact information for three references
Optional materials:
- Teaching philosophy
- Statement on scholarly or creative work
- Scholarly writing samples
Applications submitted by October 19, 2026 will receive full consideration. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Sean Sadri, at srsadri@ua.edu.
About the Department of Journalism and Creative Media
The Department of Journalism and Creative Media (https://jcm.ua.edu/) resides in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. The department consists of 38 faculty members and more than 900 undergraduate and graduate student majors. JCM faculty are leaders in sports media research and creative scholarship. The department offers a highly successful concentration in sports media as part of the news media major. JCM’s undergraduate news media major and professional Master’s programs are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communications.
About the College of Communication & Information Sciences
The Department of Journalism and Creative Media is one of four academic units in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. The college has 117 full-time faculty members serving ~3,600 students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs on campus and online, including ~110 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program in which the Department of Journalism and Creative Media actively participates. Each unit within the college is home to a nationally-ranked top-20 program. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. Housed within the Office of Research facilities are equipped with the quality products, including Meltwater data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources, state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware, and an audience experience lab with interactive VR/AI, theater and additional equipment. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts, whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement, and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to Alabama Public Radio, the Center for Public Television, and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.
About the University of Alabama
Located in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama is the state's flagship public university and offers a full course of academic programs and social life to its over 42,000 students. The university maintains several research institutes that unite researchers from various disciplines, including faculty in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media, to address pertinent societal issues. These include the Alabama Life Research Institute, Alabama Materials Institute, Alabama Transportation Institute, and Alabama Water Institute, among others. As the state's flagship university and a sea-grant and space-grant institution, the University of Alabama and its students and faculty address challenges at the cutting edge of scientific inquiry while also driving economic growth and serving the societal needs of the state, regional, national, and global community. The university is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
About Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The city of Tuscaloosa has a diverse metropolitan population of more than 110,000 and offers an excellent quality of life and various multicultural resources and opportunities. The walkable downtown offers many cultural and outdoor activities, a wide variety of local restaurants spanning a broad range of cuisines, monthly art walks, a 7,470-seat outdoor amphitheater, and a very reasonable cost of living. Tuscaloosa is a morning's drive from the Smoky Mountains, Gulf Coast beaches, New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, and Atlanta.