Position Description:
Elon University’s School of Communications invites applications for an adjunct faculty position to teach COM 4000: Media Law and Ethics on our main campus in Elon, North Carolina during the Spring 2026 semester. This course provides students with a philosophical, legal, and ethical foundation for freedom of speech and press in the United States. Students analyze First Amendment protections and limitations and apply ethical and legal principles to contemporary communication and media-industry issues.

The course emphasizes democratic values, judicial precedent, moral reasoning, and professional responsibility. Learning objectives include identifying and interpreting First Amendment freedoms, distinguishing protected and unprotected speech, evaluating intellectual property and regulatory frameworks, and applying ethical reasoning to media-based case studies.

Responsibilities:

• Teach COM 4000: Media Law and Ethics in alignment with the approved course description and student learning outcomes.
• Lead students through historical and modern applications of constitutional principles governing media and public communication.
• Incorporate legal and ethical case studies—including those related to journalism, public relations, cinema, digital media, and the entertainment industry where appropriate.
• Engage students in substantive discussions that reinforce legal reasoning, cultural competency, and ethical decision-making.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback designed to strengthen students’ analytical skills, accuracy, and professional discernment.

 Qualifications:

• A terminal degree in a related discipline is required; a J.D. is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in media law and ethics, including First Amendment issues, intellectual property and copyright, and legal/ethical implications of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level is preferred, particularly in media-focused programs.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and sensitivity to diverse cultural perspectives.

Schedule and Location:
The position is for the Spring 2026 semester, which runs January 29 – May 21, 2026. The course meets twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-4:10PM.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following:

1. A cover letter outlining qualifications and teaching philosophy, including any experience related to media or entertainment law.
2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
3. Contact information for three professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS:

Elon’s nationally accredited School of Communications is home to nearly 1,400 students, representing 20 percent of Elon’s student body, in a 105,000-square-foot, four-building communications complex in the heart of campus. Students select from six majors: Cinema & Television Arts, Communication Design, Journalism, Media Analytics, Sport Management and Strategic Communications. The school houses the Imagining the Internet Center, the North Carolina Local News Workshop, and the Sunshine Center of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition. To learn more about the School of Communications, visit http://www.elon.edu/communications.

ELON UNIVERSITY:

Elon has built a national reputation as a premier student-centered arts and sciences university that values strong relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. Elon’s more than 7,000 students prepare to become the resilient, ambitious and ethical leaders the world needs, putting their knowledge into action on campus, in the community and around the globe. Elon is the national leader in the U.S. News & World Report spotlight on academic programs that lead to student success. As a U.S. News Top-100 National University, Elon is ranked No. 1 for study abroad, No. 2 for teaching excellence and No. 11 for innovation.

Elon University is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and welcomes all applicants.