Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies

Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri - Columbia, MO

Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri - Columbia, MO

The Missouri School of Journalism invites applications for the Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies. Endowed by a gift from Lee and Tina Hills and matching funds from the State of Missouri, this position is dedicated to advancing teaching, research, and public understanding of free-press issues in democratic societies. This position invites professional journalists and/or academic scholars who have developed significant free press track records to apply.

The Lee Hills Chair will extend, adapt and lead a program with national and international impact on the practice and understanding of journalism, emphasizing the imperative of a free press in today's global society. The Chair is charged with advancing strong and innovative programs through teaching, news outlet engagement, research, professional partnerships, and outreach.

At the heart of this chair is the opportunity to teach and mentor students in public affairs journalism, through the Missouri Method of hands-on learning in our news outlets and classrooms. The right candidate for this role will engage with our news outlet leaders and students to advocate for press freedoms. The successful candidate will understand that our students learn by doing using the Missouri Method. This work is conducted across the community-facing Missouri News Network, which includes the Columbia Missourian, KBIA-FM (NPR), Missouri Business Alert, Vox city magazine, KOMU-8 (NBC), statehouse reporting project and the Boone County Journal. This position will actively engage with news outlet leaders and students to move our cross-platform coverage forward with a focus on training the next generation of journalists and serving communities across Missouri and beyond. The Lee Hills Chair will also use the resources of the chair to ensure the School's national presence as a leader in the field while working with industry leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

* Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in journalism, with a focus on free-press issues and First Amendment rights.

* Develop and offer courses, workshops, and seminars for media professionals and the public, both on campus and through distance-learning platforms.

* Advance new knowledge through programs that reach a broad public.

* For the tenured position, conduct and publish scholarly and/or public-facing industry research on free-press issues.

* Develop strategies and practices around ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in free press studies.

* Organize and participate in conferences and public programs related to free-press studies.

* Mentor students and support graduate research.

* Collaborate with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the School to help the industry with press freedom issues and share key information with the industry.

Appointment Details

* 12-month appointment at the rank of Tenured Full Professor or NTT Professional Practice Professor

* Salary and benefits are competitive and include support for research, travel, and program development, as provided by the endowment.

* Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled

* For a professional practice appointment: Bachelor's degree and at least ten years' experience in journalism, with a national reputation for professional leadership in standing up for press freedoms.

* For a tenured appointment: Ph.D. in journalism or a related field, with a national reputation in free-press studies and a significant research record with a demonstrated track record of broader impacts.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

* Distinguished record as a journalist or scholar, with credentials qualifying for appointment as a full professor with tenure.

* Demonstrated excellence in teaching and the potential to be an outstanding classroom instructor.

* Commitment to advancing free-press values and public understanding of First Amendment rights.

* Evidence of working in public on press freedom issues in an effective and collaborative manner.

Salary Range: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00

University Title: Professional Practice Professor

Internal applicants can determine their University Title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

• Letter of Interest
• CV or resume
• List of professional references
  • Examples of work relevant to this position (links, PDF's, etc.)* Letter of interest
    * C.V. or resume
    * List of professional references
    * Evidence of a track record of significant high-quality work* Letter of interest
    * C.V. or resume
    * List of professional references
    * Evidence of a track record of significant high-quality work

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled

Background

The University of Missouri at Columbia is the system's flagship campus. Mizzou is an R1 research university and member of the Association of American Universities. It is also a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for athletics. More than 30,000 students attend Mizzou. As a top land-grant university in the country, Mizzou actively shares high-valued information with Missourians and beyond. The Missouri School of Journalism actively participates in this mission by sharing content from our six community-facing news outlets with more than 100 news outlets across the state.

The J-School was founded in 1908 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalism and strategic communication. The School has 10 endowed chairs and three centers/institutes, including the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, the McDougall Center for Photojournalism Studies and the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.

The Missouri School of Journalism's graduate programs consistently rank highly nationally for research publications and submissions. It focuses on four research areas: Media History, Strategic Communications, Media Sociology and Media Law, Ethics and Policy.

Through its long history of excellence in journalism education, the J-School has graduated dedicated alumni who work at leading news organizations around the world, as well as in smaller community news outlets throughout the nation. The School prides itself on its home community, which includes approximately 75 faculty, 1,700 undergraduate students, 150 graduate students.

Columbia offers small-town friendliness and a high quality of life that is consistently ranked as one of the best college towns in the country. It features parks, trails, schools, family-centered activities and a low cost of living. Columbia is home to many restaurants and more than a dozen festivals each year, such as the True/False Film Fest. Close to big-city amenities, Columbia is just a couple hours' drive to St. Louis or Kansas City. If you

want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, or simply enjoy life, Columbia is a good place to be!

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours' drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County's largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, build a life, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.