Professor (Mass Communication/Journalism)

Sharjah International; Sharjah; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sharjah invites applications for a full-time, open-rank faculty position in Journalism within the Department of Mass Communication. The role supports Arabic and English writing, news reporting, and non-fiction writing across undergraduate and graduate programs, with emphasis on integrating digital and AI-enhanced approaches to contemporary journalism.

Candidates should be research-active educators with strong publication records and experience supervising MA theses and PhD

Qualifications

• Experience integrating AI into journalism education and news production.
• Strong understanding of ethics and professional implications of generative AI.
• Expertise in digital and multimedia journalism, data journalism, investigative journalism, or mobile journalism.
• Professional journalism experience or significant engagement with news organizations.
• Proven ability to teach feature writing, long-form journalism, and narrative journalism.
• Strong publications record in peer‑reviewed journals commensurate with rank sought.
• University-level teaching in journalism, reporting, news writing, or related areas.
• Ability to teach news writing, reporting, and nonfiction writing in Arabic and English.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate journalism courses in Arabic and English, focusing on news writing, reporting, editing, and nonfiction writing.
• Teach graduate courses in journalism, journalism studies, and related areas.
• Develop students' ability to research, report, write, edit, and produce high-quality journalistic content for multiple platforms.
• Integrate digital tools and AI-assisted technologies into journalism teaching and news production.
• Supervise and co-supervise MA theses and PhD dissertations; serve on graduate research committees.
• Maintain an active research agenda yielding publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to curriculum development reflecting changes in professional practice and technology.
• Engage with news organizations and media professionals through collaborative projects and mentorship.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and contribute to their academic and professional development.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service.

Skills

AI in journalism

Digital/multimedia journalism

News writing & editing

Professional journalism engagement

Feature & long-form writing

Academic publication

Graduate supervision

Curriculum development

Education

PhD in Journalism/Mass Communication

Job description

Professor (Mass Communication/Journalism)

This position is for a full-time, open-rank faculty role at the level of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor in Journalism at the University of Sharjah. The Department of Mass Communication in the College of Communication invites applications for a candidate who will enhance writing capabilities in Arabic and English as well as storytelling and non-fiction creative writing across all of our degrees.

The Department seeks a research-active scholar and experienced educator with strong expertise in news writing, reporting, and nonfiction writing in both Arabic and English. The ability to teach professional journalism writing effectively in both languages is a central requirement of the position.

The successful candidate will contribute to the Department's undergraduate and graduate programs and play an active role in strengthening journalism education in response to the rapid transformation of news production and media industries. Particular interest will be given to candidates who can combine traditional journalistic skills with contemporary approaches to digital and multimedia journalism and who can integrate artificial intelligence into news production, reporting, writing, editing, and newsroom workflows in pedagogically and ethically responsible ways.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active research agenda, contribute to graduate education and supervision, participate in curriculum development, and develop meaningful connections between journalism education and professional news organizations.

• Teach undergraduate journalism courses in both Arabic and English, with particular responsibility for news writing, reporting, editing, and nonfiction writing.
• Teach courses in areas such as news and media writing, feature and long-form writing, digital journalism, multimedia journalism, reporting, and other areas related to contemporary news production.
• Develop students' ability to research, report, write, edit, and produce high-quality journalistic content for different platforms and audiences in Arabic and English.
• Integrate contemporary digital tools and, preferably, AI-assisted technologies into journalism teaching and news production, including their appropriate use in research, verification, writing, editing, data analysis, content production, and newsroom workflows.
• Teach graduate courses in journalism, journalism studies, and areas related to the candidate's specialization.
• Supervise and co-supervise MA theses and PhD dissertations and serve on graduate research committees, as appropriate to academic rank.
• Maintain an active research agenda leading to publication in high-quality, internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the continuous development of the Journalism curriculum, ensuring that it reflects changes in professional practice, technology, audience behavior, and the wider news industry.
• Develop meaningful engagement with news organizations and media professionals through collaborative projects, professional mentorship, guest lectures, internships, and other forms of industry engagement.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and contribute to their academic and professional development.
• Participate actively in departmental, college, and university service.

Required Skills

Reference will be given to candidates who demonstrate a combination of the following:

• Experience integrating artificial intelligence into journalism education and news production, including AI-assisted research, verification, writing, editing, data analysis, multimedia production, or newsroom workflows.
• An informed understanding of the ethical, editorial, and professional implications of generative AI and other emerging technologies for journalism.
• Expertise in digital and multimedia journalism, data journalism, investigative journalism, visual journalism, mobile journalism, or other emerging forms of news production.
• Professional journalism experience or substantial engagement with news organizations, newsrooms, and the wider media industry.
• Demonstrated ability to teach feature writing, long-form journalism, narrative journalism, and other forms of journalistic nonfiction writing.
• A strong record of publication in high-quality, internationally indexed journals, particularly for candidates seeking appointment at the Associate Professor or Full Professor level.
• Experience in graduate supervision and mentoring, particularly PhD supervision for senior candidates.
• Experience in journalism curriculum and program development.
• Experience in funded research and international research collaboration.
• Research or professional expertise relevant to journalism and media in the UAE, Arab region, and Global South.

The College particularly welcomes candidates who can combine strong academic research with excellent bilingual journalism teaching and contemporary professional practice. The successful candidate should be capable of preparing students to become accomplished writers and reporters in both Arabic and English while helping them understand and use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, critically, ethically, and effectively in contemporary news production.

Qualifications

• Hold a completed PhD in Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, Communication, or a closely related field from a recognized university.
• Meet the University of Sharjah's requirements for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor.
• Demonstrate a strong research record or, for early-career candidates, clear evidence of being an emerging scholar with significant research potential.
• Have publications in peer-reviewed, Scopus-indexed academic journals, with the scope and quality of the publication record commensurate with the academic rank sought.
• Demonstrate expertise in journalism and the ability to teach both the conceptual and professional dimensions of contemporary journalism.
• Have university-level teaching experience relevant to journalism, reporting, news writing, media writing, or related areas.
• Demonstrate the ability to teach news writing, reporting, and nonfiction writing effectively in both Arabic and English.
• Possess a high level of proficiency in both Arabic and English appropriate for teaching professional journalism writing, editing, and reporting at the university level.
• Demonstrate the ability to contribute to graduate teaching and research supervision, with candidates for senior ranks expected to have an established record of MA and/or PhD supervision.