AS-28-9 Assistant/Associate Professor, Journalism and Media Studies

Department: Communication, Mobility, and Identity (CMI)

Primary program: Multimedia Journalism (with teaching and collaboration across CMI programs)

Campus: Beirut/Byblos

Expected start date: Fall 2027

Deadline for applying: January 31, 2027

Position Summary

The Department of Communication, Mobility, and Identity (CMI) in the School of Arts and Sciences at the Lebanese American University (LAU) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. The department seeks a scholar-practitioner who can balance theory, research, critical inquiry, journalistic practice, and civic engagement, with strong emphasis on new forms of multimedia, data journalism, or digital innovation in regional and international contexts.

CMI is an interdisciplinary department with varied degree programs. The successful candidate will be based primarily in the Multimedia Journalism program and will teach, advise, and collaborate across CMI’s other programs as well. Candidates will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, help develop the Multimedia Journalism program, and produce research in the field.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in multimedia journalism, data journalism, digital innovation, and related subjects at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Teach and contribute to other CMI programs according to expertise and departmental needs, such as Communication (BA), Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (MA), Migration Studies (MA), and the department’s minors.
• Actively engage in scholarly research and production, preferably with a regional and/or international focus.
• Advise and mentor students in the Multimedia Journalism track (MA, BA, minors) and, as appropriate, in other CMI programs; support student production and research projects; and help students connect with academic, research, civic engagement, and industry opportunities.
• Engage in service to the university and the department, including developing the Multimedia Journalism program, building connections with the field and industry, and taking part in department-wide curricular and program development.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in journalism, communication, media studies, or a related field (for example gender, migration, cultural, or sociological studies) with demonstrated expertise in journalism.
• Strong theoretical and critical grounding in media, communication, or journalism studies.
• Professional background in journalism and/or practical journalistic experience, particularly in new forms of multimedia, data journalism, or digital/AI innovation.
• Evidence of successful university-level teaching and training.
• Demonstrated interest in regional and international media as shown through research, teaching, or professional work.
• Evidence of scholarship and research productivity, preferably with a regional and/or international focus.
• Assistant Professor: a promising record of research and teaching. Associate Professor: an established record of peer-reviewed scholarship, teaching excellence, and professional or program leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability and willingness to teach across CMI programs, with research or teaching experience related to Communication, Gender Studies, Migration Studies, Advertising and PR, Creative Writing, or Sociology.
• Experience producing professional journalistic content using current news forms and technologies, especially data journalism and artificial intelligence.
• Command of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, preferably both.
• Ability to teach data visualization, media analytics, new media business models, media literacy, or other specialized areas.
• Experience developing and leading research projects or international programs, such as conferences, study abroad, or exchange programs; for the Associate rank, evidence of external funding.

The Department

The Department of Communication, Mobility, and Identity (CMI) embraces interdisciplinary education and research about culture, media, and politics, drawing on a range of methods and theoretical approaches to teach competencies and skills in professional and academic practices. Our faculty provide superior undergraduate and graduate instruction across programs in Communication (BA), Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (MA), Migration Studies (MA), and Multimedia Journalism (BA & MA). We offer minors in Advertising and PR, Creative Writing and Journalism, Gender Studies, Migration Studies, Multimedia Journalism, and Sociology. CMI faculty teach and collaborate across these programs, and we particularly welcome candidates whose work connects journalism with the department’s other fields. The department is committed to fostering academic excellence, professional ethics, and social justice action in the region and the Global South. Students in CMI are prepared for career advancement within diverse sectors and/or postgraduate studies in a changing world.

Information about the department can be found at https://soas.lau.edu.lb/academics/departments/communication-mobility-identity/

The University

The Lebanese American University (LAU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer operating in Lebanon under a charter from the Regents of the State University of New York. Information about the University can be found at http://www.lau.edu.lb.

Application Requirements

Prospective candidates should apply electronically by email to soas.careers@lau.edu.lb with a letter of interest, including a statement of teaching and research interests and how they would contribute across CMI programs; and an updated CV. The CV should include the names, emails, and phone numbers of three references. The university reserves the right to contact additional references, with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process.

Candidates must refer to position no. AS-28-9 in the subject line of the email.