APPLICATIONS HAVE CLOSED FOR THIS POSITION
The College of Information and Communications at the University of South Carolina is seeking an outstanding candidate to fill our UNESCO Chair in Data, Media and Society.
The individual who holds this chair will be an international advocate for the free flow of credible information. The chair, with support of the college’s Social Media Insights Lab and in collaboration with other college faculty, will analyze and increase understanding of mis/disinformation spread through social media.
Responsibilities
As chair, the selected candidate will be responsible for at least one major report per year. The report will focus on social media conversations as well as other data relevant to the subject. In addition, the chair will work with UNESCO to organize an international conference each year relevant to that year’s report. As a member of the faculty, the chair will be expected to make significant contributions to scholarship, public knowledge or creative activity, and be expected to mentor students and teach graduate- and undergraduate-level courses.
Required Education and Experience
We will consider both academic and professionally oriented candidates. Academic candidates must meet the qualifications for a tenured position on one of our schools’ academic tracks, that includes an earned doctorate and a record of research at the level of professor or associate professor. Professionally oriented applicants must have at least a master’s degree and five years of relevant professional experience.
The work of the chair will bridge both schools of our college, including the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the School of Information Science. Depending on qualifications and experience, the successful candidate could be appointed in either school.
Preferred Qualifications
Expertise with:
- A record of conducting research and writing about — or working on — issues consistent with UNESCO’s core values.
- An understanding of social media, including previous work analyzing and writing about social media use, trends, issues and practices.
- An ability to collaborate with academics and subject matter experts worldwide, which would include other UNESCO chairholders.
- A record of working with different cultures and in more than one language.
Special Instructions to Applicant:
The position is open until filled but only applications received by February 6, 2023, can be assured full consideration.
All applicants must complete an online application and include the following:
- A letter of application that explains interest in the position, relevant qualifications and views on mis/disinformation in society. Also, include a statement about commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Current vitae or resume.
- List of three references (including name, phone number, and email).
- Three letters of recommendation (solicited prior to start date) – listed as optional documents, while the three letters are required prior to start date, letter may be uploaded with application, but it is not required.
About Us
College of Information and Communications
The College of Information and Communications is home to two nationally recognized schools, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the School of Information Science. The college provides outstanding teaching, research, and community outreach. As such, it is one of only seven universities to combine its communications and information science programs, two rapidly evolving — and converging — fields united by a shared belief that information accessibility and accuracy is crucial to a well-functioning society. The College has approximately 1,800 undergraduates, 500 graduate students, and more than 100 faculty and staff members. New assets available to faculty and students in both schools include The Social Media Insights Lab and the Biometric and User Experience Lab. Both are designed to facilitate the study of issues related to data, media, and their impact on society. The college is committed to the mission of the University of South Carolina to foster a diverse and vibrant academic environment, embrace diversity in its various forms and create a welcoming environment that encourages all to excel.
The School of Information Science
Our diverse, engaged faculty and staff enjoy a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment within the school. In addition, a rich potential for collaborative and interdisciplinary connections exists across the university, for example, The USC Arnold School of Public Health, the College of Education, and our sister school the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Examples of existing faculty research expertise include: information behavior and information practices of marginalized groups; misinformation and disinformation; equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice; LIS Education; accessibility and disability studies; public libraries and cultural heritage institutions; diversity in children’s literature; community literacy; school librarianship; knowledge management; international librarianship; social media analysis, big data, and text mining; copyright; medical and health informatics; data analytics; information visualization; health and medical librarianship; critical youth studies; information policy; digital inclusion; and, information access and information poverty.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications has undergraduate majors in journalism, advertising, public relations, visual communications and mass communications. The SJMC also offers master’s degrees and a Ph.D. The faculty consists of a collegial group of researchers and educators with a wide range of backgrounds and interests. The school houses two professional video studios, a photography studio, and five Mac labs. We extensively use Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop in our classes. As part of our program, every student has a subscription to the Adobe Creative Suite.
The University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina in Columbia is the major research institution of the University of South Carolina system and its largest campus, enrolling approximately 35,000 students. The university offers over 320 degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional program levels. Founded in 1801, it is among America’s oldest and most comprehensive public universities and is one of only 32 public universities to earn the Carnegie Foundation’s top-tier designations in both research activity and community engagement. South Carolina’s capital city is currently undergoing several urban revitalization projects and offers residents a growing range of artistic, cultural, and recreational opportunities.
EEO Statement:
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.