Journalism CI Postings | School of Journalism and Communication

Contract Instructor Teaching Opportunities:
Journalism (JOUR)

A note to all applicants: As per Articles 16.3 and 16.4 in the CUPE 4600 (Unit 2) Collective Agreement, the posted vacancies listed above are first offered to applicants meeting the incumbency criterion. A link to the current CUPE 4600 (Unit 2) Collective Agreement can be found at the Academic Staff Agreements webpage on the Carleton University website.

All positions are subject to budgetary approval. Some of these courses may be taught by employees who have the right to automatic reappointment. Advertisement is not a guarantee that a particular course will be offered.

Fall 2025

JOUR 2201 [1.0 credit]
Fundamentals of Reporting

Introduction to the techniques journalists use to gather information quickly, accurately and ethically, and to present reports and features in clear, engaging ways. Newsroom exercises provide experience in reporting, writing, editing and using digital tools, including photography and social media.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 1001 and JOUR 1002 and second year standing in the Bachelor of Journalism program.
Lectures, discussion and practicum six hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrolment: 25 with no TA support

Day and time: ***Please rank your preferred term on your application but note that preferences cannot be guaranteed.

Fall term 2025 Mondays 1135-1725 *** Classes are generally three hours in length within that timeframe.

Winter term 2026 Mondays and Thursdays 1135-1725 *** Classes are generally three hours in length, with six-hour newsroom exercises in the final weeks of the winter term.

Course details:
This course provides second-year students with foundational skills required for journalistic reporting in any medium, although assignments are produced mainly in print journalism format. The emphasis is on gathering information quickly, accurately and ethically, and then presenting this information with precision and clarity in ways that connect with the audience. Each section contains, on average, 18-22 students.

Classes are a mix of lectures, discussions and in-class exercises. Students complete out-of-class reporting assignments on a near-weekly basis. They must receive detailed and timely feedback on assignments directly from the instructor, generally within one week of submitting the assignment. As well as the fundamental skills for any sort of reporting, students receive specific instruction on how to interview effectively, cover meetings, and cover courts and police beat news. Students are also taught the fundamentals of breaking news coverage, feature writing, the ethics of journalism, effective editing, and how to follow a specific writing style in a disciplined way (in this case, CP style). There is no exam in this course.

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a news reporter in one or more newsrooms producing daily news coverage;
a demonstrated ability to write news and features effectively in print journalism style;
an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital journalism, including basic familiarity with WordPress as a publishing platform;
a desire to teach and inspire novice journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to novice reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway;
significant experience in covering courts, the police beat, municipal affairs and/or other beats central to news coverage (and preferably experience in multiple areas);
experience editing written journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling; and,
a firm grounding in the mechanics of English grammar and writing mechanics, and the ability to explain these clearly.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 2203/MPAD 2003 [0.5 credit]
Civics for Journalists

This course offers an overview of key public institutions and civil society organizations in Canada to prepare aspiring journalists to effectively and critically engage with these actors in generating important and illuminating coverage of public affairs.

Prerequisite(s): JOUR 1001 and JOUR 1002 and second year standing in the Bachelor of Journalism program.
Lectures and discussion three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrolment: 125 with TA support

Day and time (Fall term 2025): Fridays 835-1125

Course details:
Through this compulsory second-year course, journalism undergrads will gain a deeper understanding of the key public institutions and civil society organizations that play a fundamental role in the functioning of democratic life in Canada and its constituent communities — with particular attention to Ottawa and the National Capital Region as a model for the structures and stakeholder interactions found in any major metropolitan area. Students will gain a greater appreciation of how familiarity with the structures and activities of civic institutions and civil society organizations can benefit journalists — particularly in developing skills and habits related to story-idea generation, research and sourcing. They will strengthen their ability to synthesize knowledge from course material and classroom conversations to complete individual assignments, group projects, quizzes and tests with proficiency.

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a news reporter in one or more news organizations producing daily news coverage involving civic institutions;
a demonstrated ability to write news and features effectively;
a desire to teach and inspire novice journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to novice reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway;
significant experience in covering courts, municipal affairs and/or other beats central to news coverage of civic institutions;
experience editing written journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling; and,
a firm grounding in the mechanics of English grammar and writing mechanics, and the ability to explain these clearly.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 3207 [0.5 credit]
Audio Journalism

In this workshop students will build on the principles and practices of audio journalism to produce stories and audio in various formats suitable for radio and digital publication. Note: JOUR 3207 and JOUR 3208 may not be taken in the same term.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 2201, JOUR 2202, and JOUR 2501 with a grade of C or higher in each.
Lectures and labs six hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 24 with TA support

Day and time: ***Please rank your preferred day and term on your application but note that preferences cannot be guaranteed

Fall term 2025: Mondays 1135-1725

Winter term 2026: Thursdays 1135-1725

Course details:
This course will introduce students to audio as a medium for serious journalism and to the basic skills necessary to report, write, edit, and produce news reports and newscasts. It will emphasize the importance of timeliness, accuracy, clarity and connection with the audience.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to do the following:

find and focus news stories;
interview sources effectively;
record and edit voice and sound for audio reports;
write clearly in broadcast style;
produce audio reports in various formats; and,
work as part of a team to produce radio newscasts.

This is a 12-week mandatory course. To ensure consistency between all sections of the course, instructor must:

be available to teach in the classroom from 12:30 pm to 5 pm most weeks. They will need to be in the classroom from 8:30 am to 5 pm during the personalized coaching day in the middle of the semester, and during the three newscast days at the end of the semester.
learn, teach, and ensure students use the formats in the Journalism program’s script format guide.
work closely with the Journalism program’s Radio Technologist to teach the course – using the syllabus, course outline, and assignments designed by the Journalism program.

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

professional experience working as a radio journalist /producer in daily radio news and current affairs, as well as teaching experience in the classroom and/or experience as a trainer/mentor in a professional newsroom;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work; and,
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 3225 [0.5 credit]
Reporting in Depth

Long-form journalistic writing skills development; techniques for thorough investigation of timely public issues. Study of outstanding feature and investigative writing examples. Students will pursue their own reporting projects.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for JOUR 3205 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 2201, JOUR 2202, and JOUR 2501 with a grade of C or higher in each.
Lectures and practicum three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 24 with no TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Wednesdays 1435-1725

Course details:
Reporting in Depth is a combination of in-class discussions and writing assignments. Each student will pick a specific beat, and from that beat will develop news and analytical stories over the course of the term. This course sharpens and refines the “who, what and where” of reporting by emphasizing instruction in the “how” and “why.”

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a journalist in one or more newsrooms or a freelancer producing daily or feature analytical journalism in at least one of the following: print, video, audio or multimedia;
a demonstrated ability to write news and analytical features effectively in print journalism style;
an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital journalism;
a desire to teach and inspire student journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway;
experience editing written journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling; and,
a firm grounding in the mechanics of English grammar and writing mechanics, and the ability to explain these clearly.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 3235 [0.5 credit]
Digital Journalism
2 sections

Further development of digital journalism skills. Students will produce journalism for online audiences using formats including written and spoken language, still and moving images.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Precludes additional credit for JOUR 3205 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 2201, JOUR 2202, and JOUR 2501 with a grade of C or higher in each.
Lectures and labs three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 24 with TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Wednesdays 0835-1125

Course details:
The Digital Journalism course is composed of two sections: text-based and multimedia. This teaching opportunity is for the multimedia section. Students produce work in a variety of formats, cycling through in two six-week blocks. Those who produce quality journalism will earn the opportunity to have their work published in the School’s flagship digital publication, Capital Current.

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a journalist in one or more local/national newsrooms or a freelancer producing daily or feature journalism at the community level in a range of formats;
an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital journalism;
a desire to teach and inspire student journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway;
experience editing written journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling; and,
a firm grounding in the mechanics of English grammar and writing mechanics, and the ability to explain these clearly.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 3300/MPAD 3300 [0.5 credit]
Media Ethics in a Digital World

Ethical issues related to production and dissemination of news and other forms of content as they relate to digital environments. Different approaches to ethical decision-making and their application in contemporary settings. Also listed as MPAD 3300.

Precludes additional credit for JOUR 3215 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 2201, JOUR 2202, and JOUR 2501 with a grade of C or higher in each, or JOUR 1003, JOUR 2003 and JOUR 2501 with a grade of C or higher in each and enrollment in the Minor in News Media and Information.
Lectures three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 150 with TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Tuesdays 1135-1425

Course details:
This course is an exploration of theories of ethics in the field of journalism in a digital world. It is also a study of applied ethics – how journalists confront, reason through, and behave when faced with ethical dilemmas in a world shaped by pressures, (dis)incentives, and constraints, especially digital ones. In short, this course explores theories of ethics and how they play out, for better or worse, in the real world. The course is intended for undergraduate students in JOUR and MPAD. Students will study a handful of key concepts, questions, and debates in journalism, accounting for both historical context and contemporary realities, online and offline. This course will consider theory and practice from a diverse range of perspectives.

Required skills and qualifications:
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in investigative journalism and expertise in applying investigative tools to special projects. In addition, the instructor for this course must have the following:

Solid understanding of issues in contemporary media ethics;
Familiarity with principles (such as transparency, fairness and privacy) underlying codes of ethics, which may be used in different media environments;
Ability to convey abstract ethical ideas so they can be applied in practical, professional settings;
significant experience as a journalist in one or more newsrooms or a freelancer producing daily news and/or analytical journalism;
a desire to teach and inspire student journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student journalists, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 4308/5308 [0.5 credit]
Specialized Journalism: Sports and Sport Culture

Workshop equipping students with the skills to move beyond the clichés of sports writing and live event coverage. Emphasis on explanatory/analytical reporting; production of an extended work of journalism.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 3225 with a grade of C or higher and fourth-year standing in B.J. Honours or permission of the School. Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as JOUR 5308, for which additional credit is precluded.
Lectures, discussion and seminars three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 20 with no TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Wednesdays 1805-2055

Course details:
The goal of this course is to teach students how to find and negotiate data that is already publicly available, or that must be obtained formally or informally through access to information. Students will be taught to analyze the information using a range of tools, from data visualization to document-annotation software to mapping programs.

Required skills and qualifications:
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in investigative journalism and expertise in applying investigative tools to special projects. In addition, the instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a journalist in one or more newsrooms or as a freelancer producing stories that utilize advanced data journalism techniques;
a desire to teach and inspire student journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach journalism skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway; and,
experience editing journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 4308/5308 [0.5 credit]
Specialized Journalism: Arts and Culture

Students are introduced to arts and culture journalism, exploring issues and trends that are key to understanding and covering the arts and related cultural policy in Canada. Emphasis on explanatory/analytical reporting, culminating in an extended work of journalism.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): JOUR 3225 with a grade of C or higher and fourth-year standing in B.J. Honours or permission of the School. Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as JOUR 5309, for which additional credit is precluded.
Lectures, discussion and seminars three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 20 with no TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Tuesdays 1805-2055

Course details:
Arts and culture journalism remains a most satisfying of writing genres, with opportunities for analysis and storytelling, and an avid readership online. This course introduces key issues while teaching hands-on techniques for writing profiles, reviews, etc. Topics include our celebrity culture, how to recognize bias or manipulation from sources, and the indispensable uses of digital media for reporting.

Required skills and qualifications:
Candidates should hold a postgraduate degree in journalism or a related field. In addition, the instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a journalist in one or more newsrooms or as a freelancer producing works of arts and culture journalism;
a desire to teach and inspire student journalists through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach specialized reporting at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student journalists, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway; and,
experience editing journalism produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 4400/MPAD 4500 [0.5 credit]
Professional Skills: Special Topic: Photography

Examination of a topic in journalism not covered in depth in other courses.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): third- or fourth-year standing in B.J. Honours or permission of the School.
Seminar three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 30 with TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Mondays 1435-1725

Course details:
This course will focus on storytelling through photographs in a workshop environment. Students will learn photography fundamentals using a DSLR camera through hands-on tutorials, demonstrations, and lectures. Basic camera techniques and functions – such as exposure, depth of field, aperture, and shutter speed – will be covered to show students how to take great photographs using manual settings. The course will include lighting techniques with natural and artificial sources, composition, colour, and motion capture. Students will explore different genres and learn to analyze and discuss their photographs and their peers critically. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of their work that showcases their developing photography skills. The course heavily focuses on learning and skill development through practice and reflection.

Required skills and qualifications:
The instructor for this course must have the following:

Ability to demonstrate and instruct on photographic techniques, including camera operation, composition, lighting, and post-processing relevant to journalistic contexts.
Skills or experience relevant to guiding students in producing photo essays, news assignments, and documentary projects, emphasizing ethical considerations and real-world applications
Current with industry trends, technology, and best practices in photojournalism.
Demonstrated professional experience in photojournalism or documentary photography, with a strong portfolio of published work would be an asset.
Experience with multimedia storytelling, including video and audio production.
Familiarity with current digital editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom).

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton to Professor Allan Thompson, Associate Director, School of Journalism and Communication – c/o krysia.kotarba@carleton.ca

Application deadline:
Friday May 30^th, 2025 by 12:00 p.m. EDT

JOUR 5401 [0.5 credit]
Journalism Law

This course prepares journalists to function comfortably within the legal and ethical guidelines governing their occupation. Topics include: contempt of court; free press, fair trial; revealing of sources; civil defamation; obscenity; privacy; government secrecy.

Modality: In-person
Projected enrollment: 30 with no TA support

Day and time (fall term 2025): Tuesdays 835-1125

Course details:
Through weekly seminar sessions, this course explores the Canadian legal system and the responsibilities of media practitioners, looking specifically at defamation, privacy, and contempt of court. The core goal of instruction is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge necessary to operate effectively and within the boundaries of the law as journalists, media producers and communication specialists.

Required skills and qualifications:
Candidates should hold a postgraduate degree in journalism and/or law. In addition, the instructor for this course must have the following:

significant experience as a journalist in one or more newsrooms or as an established freelancer producing law-related daily and/or analytical journalism and/or as a lawyer with media law or related legal experience;
a desire to teach and inspire students through formal and informal instruction, and by setting an example of professionalism and commitment to the role, principles and ethics of journalism;
a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to student reporters, and (c) provide fair, constructive and timely critiquing and grading of student work;
a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on stories and other assignments they have underway; and,
experience editing work produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling.