Call for an Assistant Professor in Digital

Journalism

The Institute of Media and Journalism (IMeG) in the Faculty of Communication Sciences,
Università Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, invites applications for a position as

Assistant Professor in Digital Journalism

Profile of the Faculty and of the Institute
The Faculty of Communication Sciences is committed to research and teaching excellence
in innovative communication and media areas, with strong societal and cultural import. We
consider communication as a fundamental process of the organizing of social endeavours,
which we approach from multiple disciplines both within the social sciences and humanities.
The Faculty is embedded within a diverse, dynamic, and highly international university,
fostering collaborations across faculties (Architecture, Biomedical Sciences, Economics and
Informatics).

The Institute of Media and Journalism (IMeG) was created in 2004 within the Faculty of
Communication Sciences. The Institute contributes to the teaching activities at Bachelor
level, particularly by providing the area of specialization in Comunicazione e media
(Communication and Media), at the Master level, by running the Master in 'Media
Management and by offering Ph.D. level supervision. IMeG engages in research activities in
the following areas: organizational analysis and business strategies adopted by media
companies; the historical evolution of media production processes and the media use within
different socio-political, economic and cultural contexts; and the evolution of media-related
professions, with particular regard to journalism; the history of media technologies; digital
usage among young people; and climate change communications. The Director of the
Institute is Professor Matthew Hibberd.

Candidate Profile
The Institute of Media and Journalism (IMeG) wishes to appoint a suitably qualified and
experienced candidate at Assistant Professor level to undertake academic research, service
existing undergraduate module/s and to develop a new Master-level course in Digital
Journalism. The successful candidate will already hold a Ph.D. and will have experience in
publishing in peer-reviewed journals. S/he will have teaching experience at undergraduate
and postgraduate level, including coordinating and managing modules, allowing the
successful candidate the opportunity to participate in both undergraduate and master-level
programmes by developing specialist journalism provision. The successful candidate will
take the lead role in developing a new Master's programme in the area of Digital Journalism
at USI and will also help supervise doctoral student/s. IMeG currently hosts the European
Journalism Observatory’s (EJO) Italian web site and the successful candidate will
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have the opportunity to work with EJO colleagues. Applications will be welcome from those
who have teaching and research specialisms in a range of areas across digital journalism,
including practice-based teaching, especially in the following areas:

• Journalist research and practice in Switzerland and Europe.


• News Reporting and understanding of key techniques and issues used across multi-platform
  journalism, including key standards, issues of journalistic balance and media ethics.


• Journalism and the use of big data, artificial intelligence and algorithm processing including
  knowledge of recent media controversies surrounding WikiLeaks, etc.


• Social media and the use of alternative forms of journalism.

The ideal candidate will have:

• potential to research in his/her field at an international level;


• experience in teaching including managing modules;
  The ability to teach and work in various languages and a commitment to service to the
  University and to the academic profession are a plus.

Job Description
This post offers the opportunity and resources for a young scholar of excellence to become
an important member of a vibrant research group and be involved in the Institute’s research
and teaching programmes.
The successful candidate will be expected to:

• promote research internationally and locally. Switzerland provides the opportunity of
  accessing relevant research funds provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation
  (SNSF) and similar institutions;


• teach courses and hold seminars on digital journalism at different levels: Bachelor, Master
  and Doctoral (9 ECTS per year);


• co-ordinate an assistant’s activities and act in an advisory capacity for PhD candidates;
  actively participate in the work of the Faculty Council and related ad-hoc committees.

The position involves 60% research, 30% teaching, and 10% service, and will start in April
2020 or as soon as thereafter. The employment package is competitive according to
international standards, including also one fully funded Ph.D. position with generous travel
funds.

Residence and Language
The professor should normally take residence in Ticino (Italian-speaking part of Switzerland).
The University’s postgraduate programmes are taught mainly in English, while most
Bachelor classes are taught in Italian. Fluency in Italian is preferential, but is required within
three years of taking up the post. B2 level of French and/or German is desirable.

Application and Required Documentation:
Applicants should submit:

• a letter of motivation addressed to the Dean of the Faculty;


• a detailed CV including a list of publications, together with documentation of relevant
  academic qualifications, teaching, service and professional experience;


• copies of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 publications of relevance for the position;


• names and contacts of three referees.

Please send the application in digital form to concorsi.com@usi.com

Since USI aims to increase the percentage of women in research and teaching, women
academics are particularly encouraged to apply.

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Deadline
Applications received by 15th September 2019 will be given priority.

Please send your electronic application to the Dean of Faculty by e-mail, addressed to:
Prof. Andrea Rocci
Facoltà di scienze della comunicazione
Università della Svizzera italiana
Via Giuseppe Buffi 13
CH-6904 Lugano
E-mail: concorsi.com@usi.ch

For further information, please contact Prof. Matthew Hibberd Vice-Dean and Director of the
Institute of Media and Journalism (IMeG). Phone 0041 586664725. Email
matthew.hibberd@usi.ch.