Film and Media Studies

Back to AcademicJobSearch

Please also note the other Communication categories on the wiki: Communication_studies and Mass Communication/PR/ADV/Journalism. If you have info on jobs in these categories, please post it! Please move all rumors, hearsay, and innuendo to the General Questions and Discussion section at the bottom of the page.

2008-2009 Film & Media Studies Jobs
Deadline: November 1 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: November 7 Deadline: November 5 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: October 1 Deadline: November 10 Deadline: November 1 - Extended to December 5 Deadline: November 17 Deadline: December 12 Deadline: On-going Deadline: November 3, Search Canceled, as per MLA listing (11/7) Deadline: October 17 Deadline: November 15 SUSPENDED Deadline: November 1 Deadline: November 15 Deadline: September 15 Deadline: October 20 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: October 31 Rejection letter received 11/22 Deadline: November 20 Deadline: October 3 Deadline: October 15 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: October 1 (for consideration at NCA), open until filled Deadline: October 31 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: November 15 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: Ongoing-11/3 Deadline: October 24 Deadline: Review begins October 20 Deadline: November 9 Deadline: November 14 Deadline: November 1 Deadline: October 20; received email 12/3 that position is filled, followed by an email later that day indicating that this is NOT TRUE - they are "still very much in the screening process" Deadline: November 7 Deadline: November 3 Deadline: November 7 Deadline: December 1 Deadline: October 3 Deadline: October 15 Deadline: November 3 Deadline: October 15 Deadline: November 15
 * Amherst College Open Position - Film and Media Studies
 * Arcadia University Asst. Prof of Communications- Media Studies
 * Babson College Asst. Prof of Critical Media Studies
 * Butler University Asst. Prof. of Comm.- Film/Critical Media
 * Carleton University Assistant Professor of Film Studies
 * Catholic University of America Assistant- Media Studies (Film/TV)
 * College of Charleston Asst. Prof. of English- Film Studies
 * Colorado State University Assistant Prof. of Communications- Popular Culture
 * Concordia University (Quebec) Tenure-track faculty in Film Studies
 * Framingham State College Asst. Prof of Film Studies/Literature
 * Franklin Pierce University Asst. Prof of Mass Comm/Media Studies
 * George Mason University Assistant - Film and Media Studies
 * Harvard University Tenure-Track position in Film Studies
 * Kenyon College Asst. Prof of Film
 * Lewis & Clark College Asst. Prof of Media Studies
 * McGill University Assistant - Cultural Studies
 * Messiah College Assistant - Film
 * Michigan Technological University Assistant - Media/Cultural Studies
 * Montclair State University Assistant - Cinema Studies
 * New York University Assistant/Mid-level Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies
 * Northern Arizona University
 * Northern Illinois University Assistant Professor of Film and Literature
 * Ohio University Assistant - Film
 * Ohio State University Assistant Professor in the History and Criticism of Film
 * Pomona College Assistant Professor of Film Studies
 * Saint Mary's College Assistant Prof (TT), Media, Technologies & Culture
 * SUNY Brockport Assistant - Film Studies
 * Texas State University, San Marcos Assistant - English and Film Studies
 * Texas Tech University Assistant - Film Studies
 * Towson University Assistant - New Media
 * Trinity College Assistant - Film Studies
 * Union College Assistant Prof. of English- Film Studies
 * University of California, Santa Barbara (literature and media technologies or cultures between 1800 and c. 1980)
 * University of Chicago Tenure-Track, Chinese-language Cinema
 * University of Houston-Downtown (2 positions) Assistant--Global Cinema, New Media, or post-Renaissance Drama
 * University of Massachusetts, Amherst
 * University of Massachusetts, Boston (2 positions)
 * University of Memphis Assistant/Associate- Media/etc
 * University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2 positions)
 * University of North Carolina Wilmington Assistant Professor of Film Studies (2 positions: 1 in World Cinema, 1 in World or Avant-Garde)
 * University of North Texas Asst. - Feminist/Critical Communications/Media
 * University of North Texas Asst. - Film/TV
 * University of South Carolina Assistant - Popular Contemporary Media Studies/Film
 * University of Texas, Austin
 * University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
 * University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Assistant Professor in the History and Criticism of Film
 * Western New England College - CANCELLED Asst. Prof English/Writing/Reading with specialty in film possible

==Canceled Searches


 * University of Colorado at Boulder Assistant, media law and policy
 * Coastal Carolina University Assistant, broadcast emphasis (search canceled until next year)
 * George Mason University Assistant - Film and Media Studies
 * Kenyon College Asst. Prof of Film
 * Western New England College - CANCELLED Asst. Prof English/Writing/Reading with specialty in film possible
 * University of South Carolina - Open-rank - Popular Contemporary Media Studies: CANCELLED/HARD COPY LETTERS BEING SENT OUT 24/11
 * SUNY Stony Brook- Letter rec'd saying it was canceled for fiscal reasons 11/1
 * U. of Virginia assistant professor job in Media Studies has been canceled b/c of budgetary issues. Received email on 11/5
 * UMass Amherst Just got a friendly email confirming that they canceled the search (11/21).

Receipt of Materials
email 10/9, email 10/ 24 Letter of Rcpt of Materials, 10/30 Email confirmation of materials, 11/7 Email confirmation of CV, 11/3 E-mail response of materials, 10/29 email ack of materials 11/18 (x2) Email Response of Receipt of Materials 10/10 Email Response of Receipt 11/10 Letter indicating Receipt of Materials 10/27 Letter ack receipt of materials 11/22 (2) *Pomona College Letter indicating receipt of materials 11/10 (2)<> Asked for writing sample e-mail confirmation of materials, 11/7 Letter indicating Receipt of Materials Late Sept. (2) Email indicating receipt of material, 11/11 Letter indicating Receipt of Materials Late Sept. Card Response of Receipt of Materials 10/25 Email Response of Receipt of Materials 10/27 Card Response of Receipt of Materials 11/07 Letter indicating receipt of materials, 10/7 E-mail indicating receipt of materials 10/2 E-mail indicating receipt of materials 10/22 E-mail indicating receipt of materials 11/17 Letter indicating receipt of materials, 10/31 Letter indicating receipt of materials, 10/30 Letter indicating receipt of material, 12-5
 * Amherst College
 * Arcadia University Asst. Prof of Communications- Media Studies
 * Babson College Assistant professor of Media Studies
 * Boston University Assistant professor of TV Studies
 * Colorado State University
 * Harvard University Tenure-track Position in Film Studies
 * Kenyon College Tenure-track Position in Film
 * Michigan Technological University Assistant - Media/Cultural Studies
 * Northern Illinois University
 * Union College
 * University of Michigan Open-Rank - Film and Media Studies
 * University of North Carolina Wilmington Asst. Professor of Film Studies
 * University of South Carolina Assistant - Media Studies
 * Texas State University, San Marcos Assistant - English and Film Studies
 * Trinity College
 * University of Massachusetts Boston Assistant - Film Studies
 * University of Wisconsin at Whitewater (Mass Comm)
 * University of New Haven(broadcasting/journalism)
 * Northwestern University
 * Indiana University Bloomington(Mass Comm)
 * '''Cal State Fullerton (Communications Law/Mass Comm)
 * '''Pace University
 * '''University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Requests for Further Materials
E-mail request for further materials (11/19) E-mail request for further materials: October 8th (x9) E-mail request for dossier: 11/13 (x2) E-mail request for writing sample: mid-October -- Junior or Senior Search? E-mail request for dissertation, publications - 11/17 E-mail request for writing sample - 11/16 E-mail request for second writing sample - 11/17 E-mail request for two sample syllabi - 11/20 E-mail request for teaching materials and writing samples
 * Babson College - Assistant Professor - Media Studies
 * Catholic University of America Assistant- Media Studies (Film/TV)
 * Texas Tech University Asst. Prof- English/Film
 * University of Michigan (Screen Arts and Cultures)
 * Harvard University (Visual and Environmental Studies Open Rank)
 * Amherst College (Film Studies)
 * University of California Santa Barbara (Media and Literature)
 * University of North Carolina, Wilmington (World Cinema)
 * Michigan Tech (Communication and Culture Studies)

Phone Interviews
Preliminary phone interviews under way, 12/5 Phone interviews held early December Phone interviews scheduled for 12/8 Phone interview held 11/24 Email request on 11/3 for preliminary phone interview to be held same week. Email request on 11/7 for preliminary phone interview to be held week of 11/10. Email request on 11/20 for phone interview to be held 12/9 or 12/10
 * Boston University
 * Fordham University
 * Pace University
 * Lewis & Clark College
 * University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
 * University of North Carolina, Wilmington World Cinema position

NCA Interviews
Email request for interview at NCA 11/1, scheduled 11/18 for 11/21.
 * Saint Mary's College Assistant Prof (TT) Media, Technologies & Culture

MLA Interviews
Call for request for interview 11/20, interviews 12/28 or 12/29
 * Texas State- San Marcos Asst. Prof (TT) Engl/Film

Called week of 11/17 to schedule MLA interview
 * SUNY Brockport Asst Prof (TT) Engl/Film

Interview Request, 12/1
 * University of Massachusetts, Boston

Emailed Interview Request 12/4
 * Trinity College

Interview Request 12/4
 * Montclair State University

Emailed Interview Request 12/4
 * Union College

On-Campus Interviews
Campus visits scheduled for January Campus visits to occur in late January Phone call to schedule 10/24, Interview scheduled for late Nov/early Dec. Campus visits scheduled for early/mid November. Campus visits scheduled for late November, early December Campus visits scheduled for November Campus visits scheduled for December
 * DePaul University Assistant Prof, TT, Media Studies
 * Lewis & Clark College
 * Messiah College
 * Ohio University
 * '''University of Wisconsin, Madison (media/cultural studies open rank)
 * Whitman College
 * University of Michigan-Screen Arts & Cultures/Latino Studies

General Discussion
Just seen that the tenure-track post at Harvard was advertised this year - anybody know where? Did I just miss it or was it not advertised widely?? Any links to archived sites on details of the post?

It was a joint English/Film position that was canceled early in the process (before interviews) and postponed to this year.

Darn it, that means I missed the deadline - was keeping an eye out for it but must have just missed it coming up on the CHE. How long was it advertised for?

Just a correction: The Harvard position was not English/Film. It's in their Visual and Environmental Studies Dept.

---

Has anyone heard anything from Concordia yet?

just got a receipt of materials letter (on 12/1)

Anyone know anything else about this search? Any phone interviews being set up?

Anybody receive receipt confirmations from Ohio U, Ohio St. U, or U Wisconsin Milwaukee yet? It looks like Ohio U already has scheduled interviews? No, but UWM and OSU were planning to phone candidates by the end of Oct./First week in Nov.

Has anyone heard anything about the Ohio State job?

did phone interview for feminist visual culture job, but have heard nothing else. just read on women studies job wiki they scheduled campus interviews for dec & jan

Is this discussion about the OSU Film/Video/New Media job? they have begun contacting several candidates

---

Any news on U of Michigan's media positions? I received an acknowledgment, but have heard no more. They've delayed the junior search till later, so I'm told (though still this academic year) Is that the screen cultures job? Junior search plans to bring in 3 finalists in January. Candidates being contacted, 12/5 '''Interesting. Thanks for the update. Was there an initial round of phone interviews?'''

---

Has anyone heard anything about the SUNY Stony Brook job? Letter rec'd saying it was canceled for fiscal reasons 11/1

---

Any news on Fordham? All the job postings have disappeared. ---
 * Finalists have now been selected, with further materials requested, and phone interviews conducted or to be conducted
 * That's odd considering that the final deadline for applications was December 1!
 * There's nothing untoward about it. Deadline passed. All applications received before Dec 2 were considered as they came in. Committee met shortly thereafter. If you applied, your materials were considered. It was important to move fast, so the committee did
 * wow. kind of stand-off-ish.  I hope you do not represent Fordham, but this sounds like an inside leak.
 * Sorry if it came across that way. Just trying to be concise. I have a good friend in the committee, but am not at Fordham and don't speak for them
 * No worries.
 * It seems funny that they've already selected finalists without seeing a writing sample or letters of rec.
 * it does look like they have an inside or pre-selected candidate in mind. the job was posted in only a few places and then taken down as soon as the deadline passed, with 'finalists' already selected.  And the 'good friend' doth protest too much.  Not sure that its unethical to do that, but its disappointing they make the rest of us waste our time.
 * 'It annoys me that this "person" who has a "good friend" at Fordham is being so disingenuous about the job search committee. Let's face it and call a spade a spade. They probably have one or two people on the inside track and the posted job search was a formality!'
 * I think that's what I just said, albeit not quite so antagonistically. Yes, I think it's not cool to do that, but only because it wastes other people's time applying.  Fordham can do what they want ultimately.
 * Since we have a bit of a "situation" here, I was alerted. I'm at Fordham, and will gladly explain. Here's the process: we've been checking applications as they came in, which has been easy since they were put on Blackboard due to the online submission (and about 80% came in before the last few days). Our department's policy is to narrow the field to 5 candidates, of whom 2 get on campus interviews (we wish it was more, but that's the instructions from above). The cut-off date was December 1, and our secretary worked tireless, long hours to upload, and in several cases scan in, all applications received before the end of that day. The committee then met on Dec3 to discuss all candidates and come up with a shortlist of 5. Those 5 are now being interviewed by phone and asked for further writing materials and references. I realize that it's rare for committees to work quickly, but with a late app. date, we've had time for the many apps. that came in before that date to simmer. While much griping rightfully occurs due to committee sloth, don't get angry at us just because we wanted to move along and not waste people's time. Yes, I leaked the info to a friend to post, so that people knew where they stood. But the five finalists are bona fide finalists, and there is no predetermined "winner" here. We are enthusiastic about all 5, the committee is in no agreement over ranking, and we did not have our minds made up before the search; moreover, some finalists were gleaned from the last days' applications. As for the issue of the posting being "taken down," the uni admin. didn't pay the Chronicle for it to stay up long enough, and so one of our committee members reposted it at the Cultural Studies mailing list. I'm sorry if the combination of our speed and the cheapness of the admin. made this look like a stitch-up, but I want to reiterate that it's a genuine search, especially since I'm aware that all 5 finalists may be reading this site, and all 5 should know that they're in serious contention.
 * 'don't get angry at us just because we wanted to move along and not waste people's time'--to a degree, applicants have a right to be upset. The frustration comes from the perception that Fordham didn't look very closely at apps in the rush to 'not waste people's time', and now the perception that applicants have no right to be frustrated by what appears to be an iffy process.  While its true enough that people might look at them as they arrive, that suggests a very sloppy, unfocused, selection process, at best.  There's a reason some committees take their time to do it right.  But like the other person said, the university is welcome to do what it wants.  We'll see who they hire.
 * Yes, judge Fordham by who we chose. Granted, many excellent candidates weren't shortlisted (because it's a tough year out there, and because we have specific gaps to fill), and say what you will about Fordham, but all 5 finalists are exemplary scholars and teachers
 * Just for our own edification, what does somewhere like Fordham consider to be "exemplary scholars and teachers"? I always knew that I had not a shot realistically but remain curious. I was not mad, upset, or slighted in the least in my post of this comment.  Fordham is a VERY reputable school in the NYC area, and that makes its criteria high, and rightly so. I am genuinely curious about the criteria used by committees like this one and how much it takes to be competitive for a job like this.  I was told once by a peer, "If you have to ask, then you won't get the job," but I bristle at that cynicism. I am full aware that the pedigree of my PhD, publications, and teaching would not really fit at Fordham but still wonder. I'd like to help, but not if public flaming follows. Email fordhamsearchquestion@yahoo.com (and feel free to use a pseudonymous email yourself) and I'd be happy to answer
 * That's not intended as a slight on those not selected. There are many outstanding scholars on the market this year, and schools in New York always get an embarrassment of riches in the applicant pool
 * As an applicant to Fordham who was not selected, I appreciate the time and effort that the Fordham search committee member took to explain this to us. I initially wanted to counter the unfair remarks of a particularly frustrated candidate on this, but I see those remarks have been deleted. Either way, I think more transparency and communication like Fordham's here would really help reduce some of the awfulness of the job search. We're all anxious as hell, I know, and all but one of us will be disappointed with Fordham's ultimate decision, but I just wanted to say thank you for dispelling rumors and sharing information about your process. It does help.
 * There were at least three different 'particularly frustrated' candidates, as the leak was not handled well. The deletions were a favor to all involved.  I do think the tone on both sides was lacking here, and the transparency, while greatly appreciated, was slow to come.
 * I did not apply to the Fordham job b/c they seemed to be very focused in their search on someone who does specifically film/TV. i do new media more broadly.  They were explicit in casting the job that way.  As someone said above, NYC area schools get a ton of apps, and Fordham has a very strong dept.  I'm not sure why anyone would think there's smoke here... maybe because the leaker and the rep were a little overly defensive when a perfectly valid point was raised about the time line.  I'm not implying anything untoward, but lets keep some perspective on how things played out here.

U. of Virginia assistant professor job in Media Studies has been canceled b/c of budgetary issues. Received email on 11/5

---

George Mason also canceled, as per MLA listing (11/7)

---

Can't find any mention of that UMASS Amherst Job. Not even on their HR site or chronicle, so I am wondering if its a mistake or if anyone has any info, like what department, app due date, or where you found the listing.

No, it was not a mistake. I had the job linked at both Chronicle and their HR site, but they have been taken down in the last 3-4 weeks. I'm fairly certain that it was eliminated with the hiring freeze that they have going on.

Just got a friendly email confirming that they canceled the search (11/21).

---

Have anyone heard things from some of the earlier jobs beyond EEO/AA cards or receipt of materials? Say from: CUA, University of South Carolina, Whitman College, or University of Iowa? -- CUA requested addt'l materials, but haven't heard since then (early Oct.) (3) -- Whitman is interviewing

Has anyone heard from The Catholic University of America? I received a request for additional materials on October 8th and haven't heard anything since then. Thank you!

-I called today, and the chair has been out for a few days. The administrative assistant knew that they had met a couple times about it but said to call back Monday or e-mail the chair.

-They plan to hold internet video interviews with semi-finalist in December and finalists to campus late-Jan to early Feb. "Have they already chosen the semi-finalists???"

-The impression that I got from the e-mail was that they were very close and would begin setting up times this week or next through e-mail or phone calls but had not finalized these things.

Has anyone heard about any more updates from Catholic, esp. since so many people received an email to send in additional materials back in early October? -I have not heard anything since early Oct. either. -Same here. Sent additional materials, still have not heard anything as of 12/5. ---

Other Notes: Just did updates (bolds, spaces, moves, spelling). I don't love all the space I created by adding more ---; it makes the discussion harder to read quickly, I think. So please feel free to change any of my changes. But I do think the bold makes this discussion easier to scan. Finally, do we need to start a whole list of "canceled" searches? -With the terrible state of the economy and what it's doing to university endowments, it's probably a good idea to start a list of canceled searches.

-Is there any interest in making last year's info available? Any ideas on a nice tidy way to do this? I'll give it a try, if anyone else is interested. . . Last year was my first yr on the market and I keep forgetting what the schedule was like. But I checked this - most MLA interviews were scheduled around 12/15, more or less.

---

Kenyon College has canceled the job search too, 11/14.

Judging from the program's website, the University of South Carolina has canceled both its positions. 11/15

Pitzer College: anyone know what happened to their media studies/urban studies search? I saw it a month or so ago and now it seems to have disappeared without a trace. I'm guessing it was canceled, but I can't find any mention of it.

it was postponed until next year (email from dept on 12/2)

---

Any one hear anything at all from NYU yet? NYU has narrowed the finalists down and will have campus visits in mid december ''Is that for the Cinema Studies job or the Media, Culture, and Communication jobs? (Please say it's Cinema Studies!)'' It's for cinema studies ''Just to clarify: Has NYU actually sent out invitations for these campus visits? So they aren't doing phone interviews to get from a long to a shortlist? The cinema studies dept. is down to four semifinalists and their campus visits are set for mid december'' -MCC is still sorting through apps. Don't read anything into it if you haven't heard from them, they got pretty well flooded with good candidates.

---

SCMS acceptances and rejections are, apparently, more or less decided. They are currently (11/30) sending emails and updating proposal statuses.

Does anybody know when and how they've announced the various awards in past years? ''Through email. The student writing award almost always came in Jan. The others come between Dec. and Feb.''

---

University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire apparently has a short list that they will be contacting for phone interviews shortly. Could you please be more specific?

Sure, I called the department chair to ask about the progress of the search, and they said that the committee had been meeting the past couple days, and he thought that they had come out with a list for people to call to set up phone interviews some time in the next week or so. Since he is not on the committee itself and the department has a couple of searches going on, he was not able to be more specific. --Thanks!

---

Has anyone heard anything at all about the Visual Media position in the University of Minnesota Comp Lit./Cultural Studies position?

---

Any updates on Queens College, Media Historian position?? -Have not heard anything, not even a notice that they got my app.

Job Search Advice/Venting
Does anyone actually expect to receive a job offer this year? -I'm hopeful that a decent number of people will get TT gigs and that the rest of us will also get good visiting lectureship positions.

-I don't expect anything except hiring freezes and suspended searches. Not to be negative, but state and university budgets will be slashed and burned this spring, and it is hard for Liberal Arts to make cases for new hires in such an environment. So a large number of the jobs already posted won't see the light of day. Keep sending out, because you never know ... but don't take for granted there will be budgets for even visiting positions for 09. In short, we're screwed.

''Keep heart. My (private) uni has money and like some others with money is realizing the potential to capitalize by hiring some really good people when those places who would normally be offering such candidates jobs are suffering due to state-required freezes. You'll likely need to be really good to get a decent job, in other words, but if you are, they're still available''

Does anyone have suggestions about good resources for finding visiting faculty positions? I've applied to a bunch of TT positions, but am losing hope for this year. I rarely see postings for visiting positions on the Chronicle site. Where and when are they posted? ''--I would check the SCMS website and the HR website of individual universities. You could also email the chair of departments. Good luck!'' ''--VAP positions and Post-Doctoral Fellowships, as well as more "teaching-intensive" faculty jobs, tend to post more in the early spring. I suspect there will be quite a few this year.''

Don't lose heart and keep plugging away at every chance. I'm on the market myself right now, with nothing so far to show for it. But I'm staying positive. If you are ABD (like I am), you are in an especially tough spot. People with PhDs in hand will fare better overall--I emphasize, overall. I only say this because if you haven't gotten any responses, it might be because they automatically cut all ABDs without looking closely, and not because they find your file lacking in particular. Don't take it personally. The only thing to do in the meantime is apply to everywhere and everything. You never know for sure ultimately which criteria will bump people to the top. Sure, committees are likely to privilege those that are the best fit for the (sometimes schizophrenic!) job descriptions, as we all know. But especially in this climate, its important to explore every possibility. It would be worse to not try and essentially give up hope. Don't. I'm in this to the end and I'd like to think I'm not alone.