Assistant Professor - Media Production

Department:Communication Salary:Commensurate with experience

The Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in Media Production, with an emphasis on Sports Production/Communication beginning in Fall 2027. The successful candidate will demonstrate potential for excellence in research, teaching, and service. The position is designed for a scholar whose expertise bridges sports communication research and professional sports media production.

The successful candidate will be expected to regularly teach required and elective undergraduate in sports communication and sports media production. The successful candidate should be prepared to teach applied skills via required and elective undergraduate courses in areas such as sports broadcasting, live event production, sports storytelling, multimedia production, digital content creation, and related professional practices.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to teach an occasional graduate course in sports communication, communication theory, and/or research methods. Preference will be given to applicants with professional experience in sports media, sports broadcasting, sports content creation, sports journalism, or related areas of the sports industry.

The ideal candidate will contribute to the continued growth of sports communication at the Valenti School through innovative teaching, impactful research, and meaningful engagement with the sports industry. With a new sports communication Bachelor of Science degree prepared to launch in 2027-2028, this faculty member will be expected to foster relationships with professional sports franchises, collegiate athletics programs, sports media organizations, and related industry partners to expand experiential learning opportunities, internships, and career pathways for students.

Tenure-line faculty teach a 2-2 course load. They are expected to conduct research at the level of Tier One institutions and provide service to the school, university, and industry.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Communication, Sports Communication, Media Studies, Media Production, Journalism, or a related field is required by the time of appointment.

We are especially interested in candidates whose research addresses sports communication in contemporary media environments and who can contribute to the school's growing emphasis on professional production skills and industry engagement.

Candidates may use a range of methodological approaches (qualitative, quantitative, critical, interpretive, computational, or mixed methods) and have research and/or teaching experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Sports Communication
• Sports Media and Society
• Sports Broadcasting
• Digital Sports Content Creation
• Sports Journalism
• Sports Media Production
• Social Media and Sports
• Fan Communities and Audiences
• Athlete Branding and Influencer Communication
• Strategic Communication in Sports
• Emerging Media Technologies in Sports Communication
• Media Effects and Sports Audiences
• Crisis Communication in Sports

Candidates who can foster interdisciplinary collaborations across the university, including partnerships with UH Athletics, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences’ Health & Human Performance Department, the Bauer College of Business’s marketing and NIL programming, or other units, are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Documents

• CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three professional references (listed references will be asked to provide letters of recommendation at a later time)

Employees are expected to have a home address in the state of Texas for the duration of their appointments.

Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.