Clinical Assistant Professor for Media Production and Journalism

Job Description

The Department of Communication at the University of Utah invites applications for a career-line (non tenure-track) faculty position focused on studio-based media production and journalism. This position will play a key role supporting the department’s expanding ESPN/ESPN+/Utes Productions partnership, which launches in Fall 2026 and will grow progressively as the studio begins operations and new curriculum is developed in areas like production and broadcasting. This growth aims to connect students to internships and job opportunities through hands-on, experience-based learning. This position also serves as a crucial contributor to the department’s growing journalism emphasis.

This faculty member will be instrumental in teaching practical skills such as video, audio, and streaming production; developing related curriculum and courses; and helping shape the future of curriculum with the department. We seek an applicant with strong applied media skills who can move fluently between media production and journalistic storytelling and who enjoys working in a production-forward, industry-connected environment.

Position Overview
This position will serve as a studio-centered leader and teaching faculty focused on skills-based courses, coordinating applied learning opportunities and helping students bridge media production and journalism contexts. The teaching load will likely be a 3/3 (three courses in the fall and three courses in the spring) with administrative duties related to Utes Production including curricular expansion, technology coordination, and internship advancement. This position emphasizes hands-on instruction, curricular coordination and partnership development rather than traditional research expectations. While this position will work in collaboration with Utes Production (which produces content for ESPN/ESPN+), it is not exclusive to the broadcast studio. A background in sports media may be helpful but is not required.

Areas of Responsibility
The successful candidate will teach skills-based courses in journalism, media production and/or strategic communication. Core teaching areas include video, audio, and streaming production, broadcast journalism, and broader media production. Other teaching opportunities may include podcasting, digital photography, web design and content strategy, community or specialty reporting, campaigns, and branded content or applied storytelling.

Additional responsibilities include supporting and helping coordinate the department’s studio and production infrastructure, including equipment, workflows and space planning; developing and maintaining industry-connected experiential learning pathways, including internships and project-based courses tied to the ESPN/ESPN+/Utes Production partnership; collaborating with campus partners, athletics and community organizations; and contributing to curriculum development across journalism and strategic communication, particularly where the two areas intersect.

Required Qualifications
● Master’s degree in media production, journalism, communication, strategic communication, media studies or a closely related field
● Demonstrated professional experience in journalism, media and video production, strategic communication or related applied media fields
● Evidence of strong teaching or training experience in skills-based or production-oriented courses
● Ability to work across media production, journalistic and/or strategic communication contexts

Preferred Qualifications
● Industry experience in digital media, broadcasting, streaming, strategic communication, social media, podcasting, or multimedia storytelling
● Experience coordinating studios, production teams or applied learning programs
● Familiarity with internships, partnerships or experiential learning models
● Interest in areas such as AI, sports, media law, platform governance or digital strategy, as they relate to journalism and communication

About the Department
The Department of Communication is experiencing significant and sustained enrollment growth across journalism and strategic communication and is investing heavily in applied, studio-based education. Both programs have seen substantial increases in recent years, reflecting strong student interest in hands-on, professionally oriented education. Despite this growth, we maintain hands-on, laboratory-style learning environments in our skills-based courses to ensure excellent pedagogy and individualized instruction. The ESPN/ESPN+/Utes Production partnership represents a major expansion of hands-on, industry-aligned learning opportunities for students.

Application Instructions
Applicants should submit:

1. A cover letter describing professional background, teaching interests, and industry interests or connections/aspirations
2. A curriculum vitae or résumé
3. Writing sample
4. Evidence of teaching effectiveness or professional work (e.g., portfolio links, syllabi, or work samples) (Upload as “Applicant Document – Other”)
5. Three references (names and emails) to be contacted during final stage interviews

The deadline for submitting application materials is March 12th, 2026. For questions, please email the search committee chair, Marcie Young Cancio at Marcie.Young.Cancio@utah.edu.

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