“Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) is seeking outstanding candidates for two probationary (Tenure-Track) appointments effective July 1, 2020.

The Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) at Western University invites applications for 2 probationary (tenure-track) appointments at the rank of Assistant Professor in the areas of (1) digital media theory and practice and (2) information and media policy and law.

(1) Digital Media Theory and Practice: We seek candidates who conduct critical research on the social, cultural and/or economic dimensions of digitalization. Research areas might include social media and algorithmic culture; datafication and surveillance; AI; platformed cultural production; or digital media and Indigenous life. We welcome scholars from a wide range of approaches, including cultural studies, political economy, media archaeology, science and technology studies, or journalism studies, among others. We also welcome those who have developed and applied their scholarship in research creation, activism, or digital production.

(2) Information and Media Policy and Law: We seek candidates with a research record related to policy or legal studies of networked cultures; media and information industries; media and democracy; or media labour. We welcome approaches from information studies, media studies of policy and law, journalism studies, and the critical discourse analysis of policy and law. A record of applied policy development or activism is also welcome, as are research programs that address key areas of Faculty commitment and interest, including Indigenous media policy or media, information and health.

With over 1100 students, FIMS (https://www.fims.uwo.ca/) is home to thriving undergraduate programs in Media, Information and Technoculture and Media in the Public Interest, and graduate programs in Media Studies, Library and Information Science, Health Information Science, Popular Music and Culture, and Journalism and Communication. We expect the successful candidate in each position to sustain a program of research excellence, to teach at the undergraduate level and in more than one program at the graduate level, and to contribute service to a Faculty that nourishes interdisciplinarity and values the critical integration of theory and practice.

FIMS is one of eleven academic Faculties at Western University, one of Canada’s foremost research-intensive institutions, located in London, Ontario (pop. 384,000). Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the “Western Experience” – an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

Applicants must have completed a PhD in Media Studies, Information Studies, Communication, or a related field by the appointment start date of July 1, 2020. Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in Position 1 or 2, your curriculum vitae, a writing sample (25 pages maximum), names and addresses of three academic references, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and a completed “Application for a Full-Time Faculty Position” form (available at https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/pdf/full-time-application-form.pdf) by October 15, 2019. Address applications to Lisa Henderson, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Western University, and email them in one .pdf file to fimsdeanapps@uwo.ca.
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Positions are subject to budget approval and salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Ella Young, emyoung@uwo.ca.”

The text above is a rendering of the formal letter posted in https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/pdf/FIMS-Probationary-2019.pdf (Accessed on 9/23/2019)

See also Western University Careers page: https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/faculty.html#media

Image credits: the eye and binoculars are from https://unsplash.com/. The Western Campus (fall 2018) picture is by V. Rubin.