The School of Journalism and Mass Communications at University of South Carolina invites applications for a professional-track Instructor position starting immediately.

We welcome applicants with a master’s degree and extensive professional experience in data journalism, data-based storytelling and visualization, or data-based investigative journalism. Candidates must hold the required degree in mass communications or a related field by the start date of employment. This faculty member will teach and work with media partners on data journalism projects. 

This is an 11-month position, formally with a teaching load of 4-4-2; however, course releases are expected to match the effort requested by media partners, generally predicted to be 50% of the hire’s time.

The ideal candidate should have a body of journalistic work that demonstrates their expertise in using data to find and report on current issues of the day. In addition, experience teaching undergraduate data journalism courses is preferred.

Our diverse, engaged faculty and staff enjoy a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment within the school. In addition, a rich potential for collaborative and interdisciplinary connections exist across the university including, for example, the Institute for African American Research; the Institute for Artificial Intelligence; the Big Data Health Science Center; the Hazards and Vulnerability Institute; the McCausland Brain Imaging Center; the Research Consortium on Children and Families; the Center for Civil Rights History & Research; and the Center for the Education and Equity for African American Students.

College of Information and Communications

The College of Information and Communications is home to two nationally accredited schools, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the School of Information Science. The college provides outstanding teaching, research and community outreach. As such, it is one of only a few universities to combine its communications and information science programs, two rapidly evolving — and converging — fields united by a shared belief that information accessibility is the cornerstone of self-governance. The College has approximately 1,800 undergraduates, 400 graduate students, and more than 100 faculty and staff members. New assets available to faculty and students in both schools include the Social Media Insights Lab and the Biometric and User Experience Lab. Both are designed to facilitate the study of issues related to data, media and their impact on society.

The University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina in Columbia is the major research institution of the University of South Carolina system and its largest campus, enrolling approximately 35,000 students. The university offers over 320 degrees at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional program levels. Founded in 1801, it is among America’s oldest and most comprehensive public universities and is one of only 32 public universities to earn the Carnegie Foundation’s top-tier designations in both research activity and community engagement.

South Carolina’s capital city is currently undergoing a number of urban revitalization projects and offers residents a growing range of artistic, cultural and recreational opportunities. In addition, the university is close to Charlotte and Atlanta and within a two hour driving distance to mountains and beaches.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. 

Application Process

All applicants must complete an online application at USC Jobs: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/106239. Candidates should be prepared to upload a letter of application, CV or resume, teaching philosophy statement, list of references including their names, phone numbers, and email addresses and any additional materials that demonstrate educational and academic experience.

The School has a strong interest in ensuring that all candidates hired for faculty appointments share our commitment to educational access, excellence, and diversity. Therefore, we also request that candidates submit a diversity, equity and inclusion statement with their materials.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications September 27, 2021.

For more information about this position, please feel free to contact Search Committee Chair Dr. Kevin Hull (khull@mailbox.sc.edu).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
3. Teaching Philosophy Statement
4. List of References and Contact Information
5. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
6. Examples of candidate’s work as an investigative/data journalist

Optional Documents

1. Additional materials that demonstrate educational, academic and professional experience