University of Wisconsin-Madison

Assistant Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication

Job Summary:

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks a full-time Assistant Professor beginning August 18, 2025, with a research agenda focused on Artificial Intelligence and the quality, integrity, and credibility of news and public-interest communication. Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to excellence in research and teaching and a PhD in communication or related fields such as media studies, information studies, sociology, psychology, computer science, data science, political science, public health, and science and technology studies. We are a methodologically diverse department and seek candidates with strengths in qualitative, quantitative, and/or computational approaches to media and communication research. Regardless of focus, our ideal candidate will have a substantial research agenda that sheds critical light on how AI and related technologies change the work of journalism and other knowledge-producing institutions in the democratic public sphere, in a moment of diminishing institutional trust and rising concern about “information disorder” in countries around the world.

Areas of emphasis may include, but are in no way limited to, the following:

– Use of AI by, and influence on, news organizations, political parties, libraries, public health agencies, schools, universities, and other public-facing institutions;

– The role of AI in creating, disseminating and combating mis- and disinformation, monitoring information quality, and intervening to improve the information ecology;

– The relationship between AI, media manipulation, and trust in news, environment and health communication, and other forms of public information;

– Impact of AI on strategic communication campaigns and industry;

– Racial, gender, class, and other biases in the development and deployment of AI and algorithmic systems;

– Investigating AI and algorithmic infrastructures through code audits, reverse engineering, technography/ethnography, and other methods;

– AI governance regimes and information quality, in the US and internationally;

– AI, digital labor, and the public sphere;

– AI, geopolitics, and international/global communication;

– The history of AI and related technologies in public life;

– The impact of AI on digital and news literacy practices;

– AI, digital platforms, and platformization/enclosure of public information;

– Implications of AI systems for democratic participation and social, political, and economic inequality, including racial and gender inequality.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an inclusive, fair, and equitable environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to equity among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. In addition to developing and maintaining a robust research portfolio in the area of AI and communication, the successful applicant will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges, and will mentor highly motivated master’s and doctoral students in this area of high demand and societal impact. The standard teaching load is four courses per academic year, typically including one graduate seminar per year. University and professional service is required appropriate to career stage.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required

PhD in communication or related fields is required by the start of the appointment.

Qualifications:

Successful candidate must engage in high-quality research and teaching commensurate with experience. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Anticipated Begin Date:

AUGUST 18, 2025

Salary:

Negotiable

ACADEMIC (9 months)

Additional Information:

This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison’s strengths, RISE expands the University’s successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Over the next three academic years, UW-Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/.

UW-Madison is known for its interdisciplinary, international character, something that is evident through the many affiliations our faculty maintain with other units on campus as well as collaborations around the world. Located at the nexus of four beautiful lakes, Madison, the state capital, consistently ranks among the top American cities for its quality of life. University employees enjoy a thriving entertainment, cultural, sports, and “foodie” environment.

The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us – students, staff, and faculty – can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other.

How to Apply:

Telephone and email inquiries to discuss this position are welcome. Contact Professor Lucas Graves (608-263-3399 /). Additional search committee members are also available to answer questions. They are: Professor Karyn Riddle (), Professor Hernando Rojas (), and Professor Sijia Yang ().

To apply, candidates should visit jobs.wisc.edu, search for position #307302 and click on “Apply Now.” Candidates will be required to submit 1) a cover letter detailing research interests, teaching qualifications, and any relevant professional experience; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching effectiveness, and 4) two samples of scholarly work.

In addition, you will be asked for the names and contact information for three references. References will be contacted upon application submission and asked to upload a signed letter of reference. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by November 25, 2024; applications will be accepted until position is filled. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding applications for this position must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality.

Employment will require a criminal background check.

Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of application materials must be created by the applicant that may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed ‘Authorization to Release Information’ form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of ‘misconduct’ can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/

Contact:

Lucas Graves

608-263-3399

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Assistant Professor(FA040)

Department(s):

A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/JOURN & MASS COM/JN & MASS

Employment Class:

Faculty

Job Number:

307302-FA

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.