Knight Chair in Visual Journalism

Posting Number : F2063P

Working Title :

Knight Chair in Visual Journalism

Department :

Grady-Journalism Department

About the University of Georgia :

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https : / / www.uga.edu / ) . The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.

About the College / Unit / Department :

The college is home to the National Press Photographers Association and administers the NPPA’s annual Best of Photojournalism Competition. The college routinely partners with the NPPA on training programs for visual journalists in the field, and it is home to the Peabody Awards.

The college offers a variety of classes in photo and video journalism, and it operates multiple television news shows out of its broadcast studio, where students cover everything from politics to religion to sports. The college also has a multimedia laboratory news website that features student work with photos as well as short- and long-form videos.

The college’s faculty members conduct research exploring a range of topics and issues in visual journalism, including : how images are made, selected, and interpreted; how visual journalists define themselves as they seek legitimacy and job security; and the experiences of marginalized and underrepresented journalists, including those who work in the visual space.

The college also houses several entities that would be well positioned to collaborate with the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism, among them the Cox International Center, the New Media Institute, the Carmical Sports Media Institute, the Digital Media Attention and Cognition Lab, and the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership.

In 2021, the college rescued a weekly newspaper, The Oglethorpe Echo, which today operates as a nonprofit news organization staffed by faculty and students. The Echo serves a rural county east of Athens and offers an ideal test bed for experimentation in visual journalism. Moreover, the Journalism Innovation Lab runs a partnership with the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters that places journalism students in local newsrooms and is another viable outlet for visual training and outreach.

In recent years, the college, through its Carmical Sports Media Institute, has partnered with The Associated Press to supplement the agency’s on-the-ground written and visual coverage of the Summer Paralympic Games and the Women’s World Cup, with work produced by credentialed student journalists published worldwide.

The college values diversity in experience, background, and research perspectives, and it is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for teaching and learning.

Posting Type : External

Employment Type : Employee

Benefits Eligibility :

Benefits Eligible

Advertised Salary :

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Anticipated Start Date :

08 / 01 / 2025

Job Posting Date : 08 / 09 / 2024

Open until filled :

Special Instructions to Applicants :

Screening of applications will begin September 16, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a CV / resume, links to work samples with explanations of their role in creating the samples, a list of three references, and a cover letter that includes a vision statement about the role of visual-journalism education and that addresses relevant experience and an ability to work with individuals from differing backgrounds. Questions may be addressed to Professor Vicki Michaelis, search committee chair, at [email protected].

Location of Vacancy :

Athens Area

EEO Statement :

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( [email protected] ).

USG Core Values Statement :

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https : / / www.usg.edu / policymanual / section8 / C224 / #p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https : / / www.usg.edu / policymanual / section6 / C2653 .

Classification Title :

Open Rank

Faculty Rank :

Open Rank (Tenure Track)

Contract Type : Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status : Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications :

A master’s degree or above (e.g., a terminal degree like an MFA or a PhD) is required.

Position Summary :

The University of Georgia’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication invites applications for a full-time, tenured faculty position—at the rank of associate professor or professor—to begin in August 2025 as the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism.

The Knight Chair will make and strengthen connections around visual journalism within the college, as well as between the college and industry—and will enhance the college’s public visibility in visual journalism.

The Knight Chair will develop courses and / or programs focused on leadership, management, and entrepreneurship in visual journalism.The Knight Chair will teach at least one class per semester, likely in the undergraduate journalism curriculum, with graduate classes a possibility.

Additional Requirements :

Candidates for this position must have a substantial prior record of working in photo or video journalism, or both, with an emphasis on multimedia publishing.

Candidates must demonstrate :

• success in producing compelling visual journalism in collaborative environments
• experience in coaching, mentoring, and / or developing visual storytellers
• knowledge and practice of ethical guidelines in visual journalism
• proficiency with a range of tools needed to create compelling visual journalism
• awareness of evolving technology and industry practices and their impact on visual storytelling
• experience with modern workflows in visual journalism
• an understanding of key business aspects of visual journalism, including contracts, copyright, and brand-building
• experience with developing and executing budgets for visual projects

Candidates who hold a master’s degree but no terminal degree must document exceptional professional accomplishments and be approved for a terminal-degree exception before hire.

Candidates for the rank of associate or full professor who have not been tenured at a prior institution must be approved for tenure on appointment by the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

Please see UGA and Promotion and Tenure unit criteria for academic rank faculty at https : / / provost.uga.edu / faculty-affairs / promotion-tenure-evaluation / academic-rank /

Relevant / Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and / or Certification :

It is preferred that candidates for the Knight Chair in Visual Journalism have experience in leading visual-storytelling teams and / or projects.

Experience in producing visual stories about diverse subjects and for diverse audiences also is preferred, as is experience in coaching, mentoring, and / or developing visual storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and / or Competencies :

It is preferred that candidates have familiarity with grant writing and with developing partnerships between entities like news organizations and trade associations.

Is this a Position of Trust? :

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? :

Does this position require a P-Card? :

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :

Is driving a responsibility of this position? :

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? :

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) :

Credit and P-Card policy :

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website .

Background Investigation Policy :

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website .