Director of Photography

Date Posted	October 08, 2026
Industry	Academia
Specialty	Not Specified
Job Status	Not Specified
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

Hiring Department
The Missouri School of Journalism

Job Description
The Missouri School of Journalism is looking for an accomplished photojournalist and dynamic visual thinker to join the faculty of the world's first journalism school.

At the heart of this role is the opportunity to teach and mentor students in photojournalism and documentary journalism, through the Missouri Method of hands-on learning in our newsrooms and classrooms.

In addition to classroom teaching, this position involves serving as Director of Photography for the Missouri News Network, In this role, you will work with student photographers and videographers producing content for the Columbia Missourian, our daily news site and newspaper, and our other newsrooms, including Vox magazine, KBIA-FM, Missouri Business Alert, Boone County Journal and KOMU-TV.

The right candidate for this role will share our passion for visual storytelling and will have a vision for how to translate those skills to a variety of platforms and mediums. They will help lead our work focused on examining the impact of artificial intelligence and other technological advancements on the visual journalism industry.

This role will also take a leadership role in the Missouri Photo Workshop, an intensive annual event that draws photographers from throughout the country and the world to document life in a different Missouri town each year.

This position is an in-person, full-time, non-tenure track, 12-month faculty appointment. It focuses on visual storytelling by teaching photojournalism and related classes, serving on faculty and student committees and working with the faculty, staff and students in our newsrooms.

To connect students with the profession, this position will access and assist in developing the wide-reaching visual journalism resources that are unique to Mizzou. The McDougall Center for Photojournalism Studies hosts a gallery and an archive of our shared photographic history. The journalism library is home to an expansive collection of photojournalism books that includes some of the latest, most insightful perspectives in our profession. A key to visual education at Mizzou includes the renowned professional programs that are recognized throughout the world: College Photographer of the Year, Pictures of the Year and MPW.

Our goal is to teach students practical skills used daily by visual journalists. These skills include business practices, photo stories and essays, video storytelling, studio lighting, ethical judgments in areas including the role of AI, and collaborating in news environments as working photojournalists and future leaders. Students learn by working for the Missouri News Network.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications by time of appointment

A bachelor's degree in photojournalism, journalism, visual communication or related field.

At least 5 years of experience working as a professional photojournalist, videographer, picture editor or an instructor.
Candidates will be evaluated on:
Highest degree earned in photography, photojournalism, visual communication, or a related field.

Experience teaching at the college level and a proven ability guiding students through their education.

A record of journalistic accomplishment.

Someone who is deeply engaged with our profession and wants to share their passion, intelligence and energy as part of our J-school family.

Anticipated Hiring Range
Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000
University Title: Assistant, Associate or Full Professional Practice Professor
Appointment: 12-month

Application Materials
A cover letter highlighting your strengths for this position.

Your résumé.

Three examples of your visual editing work, detailing your role.

A photography portfolio of up to 20 images. Include a URL link (or copies).

If applicable, two examples of your teaching experience, detailing your role.

Apply at: https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings
Search Job ID: 61282

Application Deadline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Other Information
The University of Missouri at Columbia is the system's flagship campus. Mizzou is an R1 research university and member of the Association of American Universities. It is also a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for athletics. More than 30,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries attend Mizzou.

As a top land-grant university in the country, Mizzou actively shares high-valued information with Missourians and beyond. The Missouri School of Journalism actively participates in this mission by sharing content from our six community-facing newsrooms with more than 100 news outlets across the state. The Missouri Photo Workshop is another example work from the School's faculty, students and alumni serving Missourians.

The J-School was founded in 1908 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalism and strategic communication. The School has 10 endowed chairs and three centers/institutes, including the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, the McDougall Center for Photojournalism Studies and the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.

The Missouri School of Journalism's graduate programs consistently rank highly nationally for research publications and submissions. It focuses on four research areas: Media History, Strategic Communications, Media Sociology and Media Law, Ethics and Policy.

Through its long history of excellence in journalism education, the J-School has graduated dedicated alumni who work at leading news organizations around the world, as well as in smaller community news outlets throughout the nation. The School prides itself on its home community, which includes approximately 75 faculty, 1,700 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students. The student body includes individuals from many countries across the world.

Community Information
Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours' drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County's largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

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