Knight Chair for Audience Engagement and Trust in Media

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University (Cronkite School) seeks an accomplished industry professional and/or scholar with an industry-focused research portfolio to serve as the Knight Chair in Audience Engagement and Trust in Media (Knight Chair).

Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this endowed chair is one of only 26 Knight Chairs in Journalism nationwide. The Knight Chair will join a select network of professionals and scholars who bridge the newsroom-classroom divide through innovative teaching, major outreach projects, and their own research or creative activity. Together, Knight Chairs advance journalism and media education, and the practice of it, by developing new models for the field, fostering partnerships, and producing research or creative activity that strengthens trust and transparency in media.

The Knight Chair will join the Cronkite School at a pivotal moment for journalism, as news organizations grapple with declining trust, audience fragmentation, and rapid technological advancements. Working within ASU’s innovative environment and the Cronkite School’s scholarly and professional network, the Chair will have the opportunity to lead a visible, applied effort to understand why large segments of the public feel unseen or underserved by news and information venues, and to test concrete ways that rebuild trust. The Knight Chair will work at the intersection of journalism, technology, and democracy, bridging together research faculty, professors of practice, and using the School’s “teaching hospital” newsrooms and centers as laboratories for experimentation. By leveraging the framework and scale of ASU, the Chair will help further solidify Cronkite as a national leader in shaping the future of trustworthy journalism.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished professional or scholar to shape the future of journalism by strengthening public trust and developing new ways to connect with audiences in a rapidly evolving media landscape. With support from the endowment, the Chair will pursue research and creative activity that generates practical solutions for how journalists inform, engage, and serve communities, and also extend their reach nationally.

The specific assignments and opportunities for the Knight Chair at the Cronkite School are, by design, flexible. The successful candidate will bring thought leadership, creativity, and a demonstrated commitment to collaboration and impact, both within the academy and industry. As an innovative educator and thought leader, the Knight Chair will collaborate with faculty, professionals, and students to integrate audience engagement strategies into journalism education and practice. Through teaching, mentorship, and public engagement, the Chair will cultivate a new generation of journalists who are equipped to report with integrity, empathy, and technological fluency. As such, the Chair will help prepare the next generation of journalists to navigate the ethical, technological, and cultural dimensions of engaging different audiences in today’s media environment and information landscape. In their work, the Knight Chair will embody the Cronkite School’s commitment to journalism that informs, empowers, and connects communities, helping to sustain a more informed democracy.

The Chair is expected to maintain an active research and/or service portfolio. For scholars, this includes contributing to academic publications and working directly with the news community and outlets themselves. Both professionals and/or scholars are expected to provide thought leadership to drive innovation in the industry and the academy, including the development of groundbreaking training and education programs for ASU’s Learning Enterprise. The endowment provides resources to support the Chair’s research and creative activities, including, but not limited to, a dedicated graduate assistant. Additionally, the Knight Chair will collaborate with other Knight Chairs nationally to advance innovation in journalism education.

The Knight Chair will teach one course per academic year related to audience engagement, media transparency and trust, and/or other related topics, for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, with specific course assignments to be determined in consultation with the dean. For example, one course assignment may be a skills course, and another could be embedded in one of Cronkite’s many centers. The Chair may additionally serve on School and University committees, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and represent ASU and the Cronkite School through active roles in industry and/or academic associations, public scholarship and thought leadership, community and/or industry outreach, and similar service activities.

To be successful, the Knight Chair will build on the Cronkite School’s existing strengths while addressing the following key opportunities and challenges:

• Advance impact-driven innovation that blends research, practice, and emerging technologies to shape the future of Journalism
• Serve as a visible national voice in a rapidly evolving media landscape
• Mentor and prepare the next generation of journalists
• Deepen and expand collaborations with news organizations
• Elevate the Cronkite School’s reputation as a forward-thinking leader in trust, engagement, and journalism innovation

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae, a letter of interest addressing the responsibilities and qualifications described above, and contact information for at least three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

David Bellshaw is leading this search with Jaime Morgen, Leslie Lemus, and Kendra Moleé.