Description

Position Summary

Position summary:The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington invites applications for a tenure-track position in Screenwriting with secondary expertise in another form of writing such as playwriting, television writing, journalism, stand-up comedy, or sketch comedy. We welcome applicants working in drama, comedy, horror, or other innovative modes of storytelling.

We seek a candidate with a distinctive and innovative creative voice and a record of - or strong potential for - impact in the field. Impact may take many forms: addressing social issues, creating entertainment that meaningfully engages audiences, or exploring storytelling itself as an intellectual and artistic act. The successful candidate will demonstrate a well-articulate research/creative agenda comparable in rigor to scholarly research, and an understanding of the mission of an academic institution.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Beyond excellence in writing, the ideal candidate will:

- Possess a strong grasp of production and distribution pathways to help students navigate a rapidly changing media landscape.

- Understand the traditions of storytelling while actively engaging with emerging forms, technologies, and challenges, including the implications of AI for writing and creativity.

- Bring insight into both the unique qualities of individual media (film, television, stage, digital) and the connections among them.

- Demonstrate experience or clear potential in curriculum development, mentorship, and academic leadership.

This faculty member will teach in our current undergraduate film and writing curriculum and will play a key role in shaping our emerging MFA program (now in development).

Please upload a writing sample (up to 90 pages, composed of one or more works/articles). If you would like to upload separate attachments, please use the 'Other' file uploads.
Please also provide an artist's statement/research statement and upload using the 'Research Agenda' file upload.

About the School:

The Media School combines a long-standing tradition of excellence in journalism, film, gaming, and communications with a commitment to digital and interactive media studies. It fosters a multidisciplinary approach to education and research, equipping students with the theoretical and practical tools necessary to lead and innovate in the media landscape of tomorrow. Faculty members are distinguished for their scholarly contributions and their dedication to teaching, offering a dynamic environment for engaging with media theory, production, and design. The Media School is home to the Center for Documentary Research and Practice, the Center for International Media Law and Policy Studies, the Institute for Communication Research, the Michael I. Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, the National Sports Journalism Center, the Observatory on Social Media, and the Black Film Center & Archive. The school serves more than 2,100 undergraduate majors in four degree programs (Journalism, Media, Game Design, and Cinematic Arts) incorporating 11 concentrations. It also offers graduate degrees (M.A., M.S. and Ph.D.) to approximately 75 graduate students, of whom two-thirds are in a doctoral program. Our state-of-the-art facilities include equipment for television, film and audio production, game design and communication research. The school is home to about 70 faculty members and 50 staff members, all working to foster excellence in the practice and study of the media arts and sciences. Faculty members maintain active programs of research cutting across the social sciences and critical humanities, teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to service at the school, campus, and national/international levels. Areas of current faculty focus include media management, media psychology, advertising analytics, environmental communication, political communication, journalism studies, health communication, communication technology, children and media, game studies, public relations, and visual communication.
See more about The Media School at https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html .

University and Community Setting:

Nestled in the lively community of Bloomington, our university campus is renowned for its stunning limestone architecture and scenic natural landscapes, including lush woods and flowing rivers. It is often celebrated as one of the most beautiful campuses globally. This setting fosters a welcoming community and emphasizes the importance of both the arts and sciences. We highly value candidates who contribute to these fields through their academic pursuits and community involvement.

Bloomington is a vibrant midsize city located within driving distance of Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Louisville. Our community is small yet welcoming, with people from all over the world. Bloomington features an active arts community, with several independent music and performance venues and one of the best university cinemas in the country. We boast an array of eclectic restaurants and craft breweries. Southern Indiana is also home to beautiful scenery, and residents enjoy year-round outdoor activities.

Basic Qualifications

Academic qualifications include:

• MFA in an appropriate field or equivalent degree
• Demonstrated potential or established record in writing. A record in securing external funds is a bonus.
• Demonstrated academic practice including an understanding of curriculum and a well-developed research agenda, and the academic enterprise.
• Effective teaching skills adaptable to various learning environments.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Anne Stichter, at acsticht@iu.edu.

Special Instructions

Before a conditional offer of employment with tenure is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers along these lines. The relevance of information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a candidate's eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University Bloomington on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that Indiana University Bloomington takes the matters of sexual and professional misconduct very seriously.