University of Florida
Location
Gainesville, FL | United States
Job description
Classification Title:
Director of the Collier Prize for State Government Accountability
Job Description:
Be Part of a National Initiative to Improve Local Journalism
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications is seeking a leader to help take the Collier Prize for State Government Accountability to the next level. The $20,000 Collier Prize, now in its fifth year, is one of the largest journalism prizes in the nation. It is designed to encourage coverage of state-level government in every state, focusing on investigative and political reporting. The prize, announced annually at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, recognizes the best U. S. professional reporting on state government accountability in any medium or on any platform and is available to any news organization.
The inaugural director will serve as the liaison with key constituents and be responsible for administering the prize (entry promotion, judging) and outreach to advance the prize’s brand equity and recognition. The director will also be responsible for developing a new, annual symposium that highlights the work of Collier Prize winners and entrants and provides insights on covering state-level agencies and issues.
About the Opportunity
The new director will become a national thought leader in local journalism, leveraging the growing brand of the Collier Prize. The director will work with internal and external resources to elevate the Collier Prize to be as recognizable as other journalism awards like the Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Awards. The goal is to increase the number of entries each year (currently at 105 for 2024), coverage of the prize winners, and media attention throughout the year.
The director will also be responsible for administering the prize itself, including recruiting judges from the industry and overseeing the judging process.
Finally, the director will be responsible for creating and managing an annual symposium focused on highlighting the best in local accountability journalism, examining the challenges to producing the best reporting, and exploring solutions to improve the journalism and the environment that supports it.
This is a senior position and will report directly to the College’s dean.
About the University
The University of Florida attracts the best and brightest students, staff and faculty, places them together and connects them with world-class resources to spark extraordinary discoveries and innovations. UF was ranked as the number one public university in 2023 by The Wall Street Journal and sixth by U.S. News and World Report. UF is the state’s sole member of the Association of American Universities and is in the midst of creating the nation’s top research lab in artificial intelligence. In 2023 UF faculty generated more than $1 billion in research grants.
UF offers a competitive salary commensurate with similar positions and includes a full benefits package. To view the university’s Total Reward benefit package, please click here: https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/.
About the College of Journalism and Communications
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, recognized by its peers as one of the premier programs in the country, is driving innovation and engagement across the disciplines of advertising, journalism, public relations and media production and management. The college’s strength is drawn from both academic rigor and experiential learning. It offers its more than 2,500 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. CJC students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Innovation News Center, which generates content across multiple platforms, The Agency, an integrated strategic communication agency, the Atlas digital media analysis lab, and in seven broadcast and digital media properties. The College is also home to the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project, the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project, and the Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology.
About Gainesville
As home to Florida's largest and oldest university, Gainesville (http://cityofgainesville.org) is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events, and athletics. Gainesville and the surrounding area are home to about 250,000 people, a robust arts community, several museums, a world-class health care system anchored at UF, a downtown core known for its restaurants and brew pubs, excellent public and private schools, and abundant nature exemplified by clear, natural springs. Additionally, within 2 hours are attractions such as Disney World, University Studios, Busch Gardens, and historic St. Augustine.
Expected Salary:
Commensurate with experience
Minimum Requirements:
Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Applications must be submitted online with the following materials:
Questions should be directed to search panel chair Randy Bennett ([email protected]). If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for these positions, please call (352) 392-4621 or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD).
This position has been reposted. Previous applicants still under consideration and need not to apply.
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
Health Assessment Required:No
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