Clinical Assistant Professor for Media Production and Journalism

Position Information

Proposed Faculty Rank Clinical Assistant Professor (Career Line)

Department 00085 - Communication

City Salt Lake City, UT

Track Non Tenure Track

New Position to Begin 07/01/2026

Details

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 includepodcasting, digital photography, web design and content strategy, community or specialty reporting, campaigns, and branded content or applied storytelling.

Additional responsibilities includesupporting 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 growthacross 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:

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 .

EEO/Non-Discrimination Information

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:

https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

Notice

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

Special Instructions for Candidates

Applicants should submit:

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 .

Open Date 02/19/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Requisition Number PRN01478CF

Type Faculty