U. of Illinois seeking business journalism professor

The University of Illinois is seeking seeking an outstanding journalist and teacher to join its faculty as the Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Professor in Business Journalism.

This is a tenured nine-month academic year appointment. Illinois invites applications from candidates with demonstrated skills in business reporting in multiple fields such as, but not limited to, economic development, agriculture, energy and the environment, health, and information technology.

This person must be an innovative thinker who will develop courses and programs that demonstrate the Department’s commitment to business journalism and which complement the University’s mission as a Research 1 land-grant university and its Visioning Future Excellence strategic plan. The ability to build partnerships and collaborations across units in the College of Media and the University is essential.

The ideal candidate must hold an advanced degree and have at least 8 years of professional journalism experience. Multimedia skills and digital fluency are required. A record of successful teaching at the university level will be a plus. The candidate must be qualified for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor at the University of Illinois. As such, the candidate must demonstrate how he or she would meet the requirements of teaching, research/creative endeavor, and service that are typical for a major public research university.

The Department of Journalism at the University of Illinois has been making history and teaching students how to report it for more than 85 years. It is the alma mater of winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the Emmy Award and the Peabody Award. Members of its faculty have earned numerous professional and academic awards, including three Pulitzer Prizes, a credential unmatched by any other Big Ten university, and a Peabody Award.

The women and the men who teach in the Department know how to translate their professional experience to the classroom, and the intimate laboratory setting of its skills classes affords students the opportunity to share that expertise. The College of Media is the home of the Departments of Journalism, Advertising, and Media and Cinema Studies; Illinois Public Media; the Institute of Communications Research; and the Agricultural Communications program. The College of Media is the birthplace of Public Broadcasting and is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The position will begin on Aug. 16, 2014. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Candidates should create a candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a cover letter explaining how the candidate’s training and background, including professional experience and teaching qualifications, make the applicant highly suitable for the position; curriculum vitae; and a list of full contact information for three references. All requested information must be submitted for an application to be considered complete.

Full consideration will be given to applications received by Nov. 15, 2013. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. The review will continue until the position has been filled. For further information regarding application procedures, please contact Jane Dowler at dowler@illinois.edu or 217-333- 2351.