Assistant Professor of Journalism

Assistant Professor of Journalism

Department of Communications

College of Communications

Assistant Professor of Journalism

Fall 2027

The Department of Communications at California State University,
Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant
Professor position in journalism, with an appointment beginning in
August 2027. This is your opportunity to bring your passion and
expertise to a dynamic, future-oriented faculty where you will
directly impact nearly 1,500 diverse students across our premier
mass communications programs. Situated in the second-largest media
market in the United States, CSUF offers an unparalleled ecosystem
for collaboration and innovation—complete with state-of-the-art
laboratory facilities, an elite internship center, award-winning
student media, and our signature annual COMM Week. If you are eager
to lead impactful scholarship, mentor driven storytellers, and
thrive within a deeply supportive academic community, we welcome
your application to join us in shaping the future of
journalism.

Position

In this role, you will teach core and elective courses within our
journalism concentration, bringing real-world insights into the
classroom. Additionally, you will have the unique opportunity to
transition into a mentorship role as the advisor to the Daily
Titan, CSUF's editorially independent, student-run
multi-platform newsroom. Your instructional portfolio will include
essential courses such as digital news reporting and writing, the
principles and ethics of journalism, and the Daily Titan
news capstone.

You will have the opportunity to advance the field through
impactful research, scholarship, or creative work in journalism and
mass communication, aligned with our tenure milestones. Beyond the
classroom, you'll become an integral part of our vibrant campus
community—mentoring students, helping shape the future of our
department, and collaborating across the wider university and
academic discipline. To support our diverse student body,
candidates should also expect to teach evening and graduate-level
courses occasionally.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in mass communications,

journalism, or a related field by time of appointment.

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in undergraduate

teaching.

• Demonstrated journalism experience.
• Ability to teach the Daily Titan news capstone course

and either digital news reporting and writing or principles and
ethics of journalism.

• Ability to balance teaching, conducting scholarship and/or

creative activities, and working collaboratively with colleagues on
department and university service activities.

• Ability to interact effectively orally and in writing with a

wide and culturally diverse range of students and colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of successful college-level teaching.
• Evidence of scholarly research or creative accomplishments in

journalism or related fields.

• News industry and/or college news media advising

experience.

• Experience with and ability to incorporate emerging

communications technologies and tools, such as AI and data
visualization, into teaching, news media advising, scholarship,
and/or creative activities.

• Ability to contribute to accreditation self-study, curriculum

development, and assessment of student learning.

• Evidence of a professional network, including participation in

industry and/or academic associations in journalism and mass
communications.

NOTE: Representatives from the Department of
Communications will be at the 2026 AEJMC Conference in August. If
you will be attending the conference, please indicate that in your
cover letter.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and
Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex,
color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law
and federal civil rights laws, California State University,
Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and
employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential
treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every
student and employee has access to the resources and support they
need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their
communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's
Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California
Constitution), other applicable state and federal
anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We
prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based
on race or any other protected status, and all forms of
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university
programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading
public university known for its strong academic programs and
commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in
the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation,
collaboration, and professional growth. The university values
teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where
students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a
designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and
Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The
university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021
and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation's leading
authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an
equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of
over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State
Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic
excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal
State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to
making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from
various disciplines who share the university's mission and core
values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established
affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Application

A complete online application must be received by electronic
submission to be considered. To apply, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html,
choose full-time faculty, search for the position
559310 and provide the following required
materials:

• Cover letter in which you respond to the required

qualifications.

• Curriculum vitae.
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for

initial review).

• Research statement.
• Teaching statement.
• Candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no

more than 500 words):

-
Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that
recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in
achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and
teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these
values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and
pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that
excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also
about ensuring that all members of the community have the
opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).

• With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about

the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions
to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse
student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's
professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or
willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive
of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse
ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities,
languages, religions, and sexual orientations.

• Cal State Fullerton

serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and
socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide
concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our
students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under
the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and
commitment, and future plans.

• Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding

perspectives that are reflective of the student population into
your teaching and/or scholarship.

• Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a

diverse student population.

• Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing

opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the
classroom environment.

• Your experience integrating creative activities that are

inclusive of the identities of our student body and
communities.

• A list of three references with relevant contact information:
• Finalists must submit three letters of

recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to
submit. On the References page of the online application, enter
information and email addresses for three referents who will
provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At
the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a
request via email along with information on uploading the letter.
You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by logging back
into your applicant portal.

• Finalists will be asked to have each of their

three referents submit a letter of recommendation. Please have
these ready for the referents to offer should you proceed to this
search phase.

• Semifinalists and/or finalists may be asked to submit

additional materials for further consideration (e.g., scholarly
articles, portfolio, etc.)

Please direct all questions about the position to the search
committee chair, Frank Russell, at frussell@fullerton.edu or call
657-278-1066.

Application Deadline

To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be
received by October 1, 2026. The anticipated
appointment date is August 16, 2027.

The College and Department

The Department of Communications is one of the largest and most
diverse mass communications programs in the United States, situated
in the second-largest media market in the country. Nearly 1,500
students are enrolled in four concentrations (advertising,
entertainment/tourism, journalism, and public relations) with
nearly 50 full- and part-time faculty members. The Department
operates international programs, a graduate program, numerous
laboratory facilities, an internship center, award-winning student
media, a student advertising and public relations agency, a
week-long signature university event called COMM Week, and many
other student organizations, clubs, and competitions. For more
information about the department, please visit: http://communications.fullerton.edu/comm.

The Department of Communications is one of four departments in
the College of Communications along with Cinema and Television
Arts, Communication Science and Disorders, and Human Communication
Studies.

Compensation

The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range
is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic
year). The anticipated hiring range is $6,851 to $6,985 per
month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and
qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits
employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite
sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work
(https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start-up funds, and a
reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive
benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse,
domestic partner, and dependent fee-waiver; access to campus
child-care; and a defined-benefit retirement through the state
system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed
description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first
become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a
10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information

At the time of
appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must
have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services to work in the United States. For information on the
University policy on support for non-immigrant probationary faculty
visa acquisition, please visit the Faculty/Staff Visas and
Permanent Residency page: https://hr.fullerton.edu/risk-management/faculty-staff-visas-permanent-residency/default.php.

Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on
the strength of the applicant pool.

CSU Policies

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated
reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU
Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of
employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be
completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally
offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete
the background check may affect the application status of
applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who
apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified
applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Notice of
Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information
for Title IX Coordinator.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU)
Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose
business operations reside within the State of California. It
requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the
State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus
instruction, be assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU
also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently
from a business location outside of the United States.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have
received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision
determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the
last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the
minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of
employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of
the application process must also sign a release form that
authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current
and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated
allegations of misconduct.

To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/fl/en-us/job/559310/assistant-professor-of-journalism
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