Contract Instructor Teaching Opportunities:
Media Production and Design (MPAD)

Pursuant to Article 16.3 of the CUPE 4600 Unit 2 Collective Agreement, subject to Article 16.2 and 16.4 through 16.7, applications are invited from members of the CUPE 4600 bargaining unit and other interested persons to teach the following Media Production and Design courses during the 2025-2026 Fall and Winter terms.

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 below 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

MPAD 2001 A & B [0.5 credit]
Basics of Visual Communication I
2 sections

Introducing visual storytelling through an array of print, digital, and /or interactive media. Students will explore concepts such as visual literacy, rules of composition, and iconography while learning industry-standard software and tools.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 1002.
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 25 with TA support

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

  • 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 involved in writing and storytelling;
  • strong non-fiction writing skills in both a professional and academic setting with shown ability to teach writing fundamentals;
  • significant experience in collecting and gathering research;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 2003 [0.5 credit]
Introductory Data Storytelling

Governments use data for tracking. Numbers guide public policy and can become powerful and important stories. Students will gain a theoretical understanding of the promise and pitfalls of data availability alongside the practical skills needed for powerful data-based storytelling.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 1002.
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 45 with TA support

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

  • 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 involved in writing and storytelling;
  • strong non-fiction writing skills in both a professional and academic setting with shown ability to teach writing fundamentals;
  • significant experience in collecting and gathering research;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 2004 [0.5 credit]
Writing for Media

Honing of essential writing skills while building on students’ baseline capabilities. Coursework is based on the principle that the best way to improve technique is through regular writing and editing, supported by constructive critiques.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 1002.
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 45 with TA support

Course details:
Writing for Media helps students understand the importance of writing in their personal and professional life and help students express themselves clearly and powerfully. The course focuses on writing fundamentals, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity, before advancing to a wider range of topics related to writing in non-fiction storytelling. The course helps students prepare for non-fiction digital storytelling by helping them learn how to gather and synthesize information from a range of sources, including interviews with experts and other sources.

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

  • 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 involved in writing and storytelling;
  • strong non-fiction writing skills in both a professional and academic setting with shown ability to teach writing fundamentals;
  • significant experience in collecting and gathering research;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 4200 [0.5 credit]
Freelance Media Survival Skills

Preparation for freelancing to publications and production houses. Resumes, finding potential buyers, interviews, establishing and marketing an individual as a business. Pitching stories, ideas and services.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 2004 and fourth-year standing in the Bachelor of Media and Design program
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 43 with no TA support

Course details:
Beginning with a freelancer’s toolkit, students will learn to compete in a workforce that increasingly values the skills and mindset of the entrepreneurial media producer. Students will be trained to pitch, sell their skills, develop portfolios, and learn about the RFP process. Students will learn the core professional practices necessary to launch, tailor and sustain their career in an ever-changing media landscape as a self-employed freelancer.

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

  • 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 involved in storytelling;
  • significant experience in freelance work, project planning and execution – including finding work, money management, and project pitching;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to freelance and career-ready skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to fourth-year students, 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 assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 4300/JOUR 4400 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics: Extended Reality Journalism

A special topics course exploring how extended reality – including virtual and augmented reality – can be used for non-fiction storytelling.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in the Bachelor of Media and Design or Bachelor of Journalism programs
Workshop three hours a week.

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

Course details:
In this course, students will delve into Extended Reality (XR), fostering an understanding of its applications in non-fiction storytelling, including its impacts on consumers. The course highlights the practical steps to execute innovative projects, such as XR stories. Critical evaluation of current XR technologies, idea pitching, user experience, and ethical implications will be covered. The course aims to equip students with the mindset to transform the future of non-fiction storytelling and pioneer immersive storytelling experiences. The course contains students in the 4th year of the Media Production and Design Program and Journalism, with varied degrees of experience with immersive technologies.

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

  • 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 digital storytelling;
  • experience working with immersive technologies and extended reality applications for storytelling purposes;
  • Proven ability to instruct, guide, and provide constructive feedback to multi-disciplinary upper-year undergraduate students in a workshop environment using advanced technologies;
  • experience in editing work produced by others, checking it for accuracy, clarity, fairness, consistency of style, and precision in grammar and spelling.
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

Winter 2026

MPAD 1002 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Storytelling: The Practice

Finding and telling stories in engaging ways using interactive digital mediums. Assignments build basic skills that may include research, interviewing, writing, storytelling, prototyping, editing, and ethics while focusing on how to structure and develop a fact-based digital media project for dissemination.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 1001.
Workshop three hours a week.

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

Course details:
This hands-on workshop course expands on the theories and historical origins of stories and how they are conceived through different mediums introduced in MPAD 1001 through the development of interactive digital storytelling projects. Students learn how to create and tell stories in engaging ways, through digital tools and technology. Topics include human-computer interaction, media affordances, accessibility, project prototyping, and design documentation.

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

  • 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 involved in writing and storytelling;
  • strong non-fiction writing skills in both a professional and academic setting with shown ability to teach writing fundamentals;
  • significant experience in collecting and gathering research;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 2002 A&B [0.5 credit]
Basics of Visual Communication II
2 Sections

This course expands on the concepts introduced in MPAD 2001 while introducing additional visual storytelling theories and skills. Students will explore how visual storytelling is incorporated within multimedia projects using a wide range of techniques and tools.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 2001.
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 25 with TA support

Course details:
Data storytelling is the art of translating data analysis into a cohesive and coherent narrative that is understandable to the desired audience. The use of data visualizations helps isolate and highlight the critical data, making an otherwise chaotic mess of facts and numbers into an understandable format. This course will introduce students into how to convert data into legible and insightful data visualizations by teaching the fundamental principles for creating successful layouts. Students will learn how to analyze data and turn it

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

  • 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 online storytelling;
  • an understanding of digital tools and how they can be used for storytelling;
  • a willingness to be accessible to students outside of class time to discuss and advise on assignments or projects they have underway;
  • a demonstrated ability in project planning and execution of fact-based digital storytelling projects.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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

MPAD 3001 [0.5 credit]
Storytelling and Social Media

This course expands on the concepts introduced in MPAD 2001 while introducing additional visual storytelling theories and skills. Students will explore how visual storytelling is incorporated within multimedia projects using a wide range of techniques and tools.

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): MPAD 2004
Workshop three hours a week.

Modality: In-person
Anticipated enrollment: 25 with TA support

Course details:
This course examines the roles of social media both as an element in online storytelling and on its own as a distinctive way of delivering information to audiences and engaging with them. It will explore the evolution of social media; how, why and where specific social media platforms work; new trends and ideas and the longevity and changing public interest in specific social media platforms. Students will learn and practice their skills in research, gathering information from social media uses, finding characters for stories and for promoting their work on social media. They will also be encouraged to develop and experiment with new methodologies and techniques for reaching audiences and presenting stories to them in an engaging and informative manner.

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

  • 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 involved in storytelling;
  • significant experience in the collection, analysis and use of social media and its presentation in different software and formats as an element of online storytelling;
  • an understanding of the requirements and practices of digital media;
  • a demonstrated ability to (a) develop and deliver lessons to teach social media skills and principles at the university level, (b) provide firm and constructive guidance to third-year students, 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 assignments or projects they have underway.

How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter listing other courses previously taught at Carleton (if any) to Vicky McArthur, Program Director, Bachelor of Media Production and Design – c/o krysiakotarba@cunet.carleton.ca

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