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Documentary Professor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Professor of the Practice in Media Arts and Production The Department of Communication is seeking a ... documentary and nonfiction storytelling, transmedia storytelling, and other emerging forms of ...

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Bioethics & Humanities

Seattle, WA · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

Analyzing qualitative research data, including interview and documentary materials; * Reviewing and synthesizing relevant scholarly literature; * Collaborating with Professor Hinterberger on the ...

$36K - $49K/yr

Analyzing qualitative research data, including interview and documentary materials; * Reviewing and synthesizing relevant scholarly literature; * Collaborating with Professor Hinterberger on the ...

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Documentary Professor information

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$42.5K

$80.1K

$135K

How much do documentary professor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for documentary professor in the United States is $80,057.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $91,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a documentary professor do?

A Documentary Professor is an educator who specializes in teaching the theory and practice of documentary filmmaking. They guide students through the process of researching, planning, shooting, and editing documentaries, often combining academic study with hands-on experience. In addition to teaching, they may conduct their own research, mentor students, and help organize screenings or festivals. Documentary Professors typically work at colleges, universities, or specialized film schools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a documentary professor?

To thrive as a Documentary Professor, you need a solid background in film studies or media production, often supported by an advanced degree (such as an MFA or PhD) and professional documentary experience. Familiarity with editing software (like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro), camera equipment, and curriculum development tools is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship, and critical thinking skills enable effective teaching and student engagement. These competencies ensure that students receive high-quality instruction and practical guidance in both the creative and analytical aspects of documentary filmmaking.

What are some common challenges faced by documentary professors in guiding students through their documentary projects?

Documentary Professors often encounter challenges such as helping students balance creative vision with practical limitations like budget, equipment, and time constraints. Additionally, guiding diverse groups with varying experience levels requires tailoring mentorship to each student's needs while ensuring collaborative learning. Navigating ethical considerations and teaching students how to handle sensitive subjects responsibly is another key responsibility. Overall, fostering both technical and storytelling skills in an academic setting demands adaptability and clear communication.

What is the difference between Documentary Professor vs Documentary Filmmaker?

AspectDocumentary ProfessorDocumentary Filmmaker
CredentialsTypically requires a master's or doctoral degree in film, media studies, or related fieldsOften has a background in film production, media, or related areas; formal education varies
Work EnvironmentAcademic settings, universities, collegesFilm sets, production companies, independent projects
Industry UsageUsed in education, research, and academiaUsed in media production, broadcasting, and independent filmmaking

While both roles involve a deep understanding of documentary film, a Documentary Professor primarily teaches and researches in academic settings, whereas a Documentary Filmmaker focuses on creating and producing documentary content. The roles overlap in knowledge of film techniques and industry standards but differ in their primary objectives and work environments.

What are popular job titles related to Documentary Professor jobs?

For Documentary Professor jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Documentary Professor job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,057 per year, or $38.5 per hour.

2027 FRONTLINE/CUNY-Newmark Journalism School Reporting Fellow

Boston, MA • On-site

$70K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.
At GBH, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are hybrid and work both from home and onsite. Our current hybrid approach requires staff to work onsite a minimum of two days each week, every Tuesday and Wednesday, Hybrid staff are also welcome to come in additional days each week or may be asked to come in on other days by their manager.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
FRONTLINE is PBS' flagship investigative documentary series, exploring the issues of our time through powerful storytelling.
FRONTLINE has won an Academy Award® as well as every major journalism and broadcasting award, including more than 100 Emmy Awards and more than 30 Peabody Awards. Today, our dedicated cadre of reporters, producers and digital makers report across platforms - from our documentaries to transmedia projects. In an age of 24/7 breaking news, we remain dedicated to thoughtful, incisive accountability journalism.
As a member of public media, it's a core part of our mission to foster a work environment and to produce journalism that values inclusiveness and reflects the broad perspectives of the American public.
JOB OVERVIEW
FRONTLINE is hiring one graduating student or recent graduate from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY to work as a reporting fellow for a finite period of one year. This position is open exclusively to recent and soon-to-be Newmark graduates from the classes of 2025 and 2026.
The FRONTLINE/Newmark fellow will work alongside our filmmaking teams in producing the series' investigative documentaries. Responsibilities will vary depending on projects in production and the skill set of the selected fellow, but may include contributing to the research and development of stories, reporting out leads, wrangling and analyzing data, helping set up interviews and shoots, as well as various tasks as documentaries undergo editing, vetting and post-production. The bulk of the fellow's responsibilities will be to contribute to documentaries for broadcast and/or digital release. There will be opportunities to work on digital stories for our website - as well as contribute to interactive projects or FRONTLINE's Local Journalism Initiative, which supports local news outlets producing investigative journalism projects.
We are looking for a strong reporter and creative storyteller who is committed to pursuing investigative journalism with rigor, thoroughness and fairness. Previous investigative reporting experience is preferred. Experience working on journalistic documentaries is encouraged but not required.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with FRONTLINE's editorial and digital teams, as well as with filmmakers and other editorial partners.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Assist with research, reporting, producing and fact-checking series' documentary films
  • Pitch, report, write and produce digital stories
  • Coordinate with digital video, social media and other teams on future stories

SKILL SET
  • Excellent reporting, writing, organizational and communication skills
  • Facility in data and investigative journalism tools and techniques
  • Strong news judgment and fact-checking skills
  • Strong work ethic
  • Comfort with managing multiple projects simultaneously
  • Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
  • Do you have skills not listed above that make you uniquely qualified? Let us know.

ELIGIBILITY
This position is open exclusively to graduates of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. All 2025 and 2026 master's degree recipients from the J-school are eligible to apply. International students with OPT status for the full duration of the fellowship will be considered.
COMPENSATION AND TERMS
This is a full-time position, with a salary of $70,000 and benefits, for a period of one year to begin roughly January or February 2027. FRONTLINE is located within the office of our parent organization, GBH, in Boston. We strongly prefer this position to be based in Boston, but there is some flexibility if the fit is right. Fellows who relocate to Boston are responsible for their own housing and transportation. The fellowship is non-renewable and has a finite duration of one year.
TO APPLY
Please submit the following materials via this GBH portal by Oct. 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications without all of the following will not be considered. Candidates who do not submit an application and materials via the GBH portal cannot be considered.
1) Front page & cover letter (two pages). A front page with your name, full contact information and names and contact information for three references, including at least two CUNY professors. The cover letter on the second page should be addressed to Priyanka Boghani, FRONTLINE Digital Editor. The letter should detail your interest in FRONTLINE; any reporting, writing and investigative experience; and any specializations in specific beats or types of media.
2) Resume (one page) & work samples. Please limit the resume to one page. In the same document, add links or attach no more than five of your best work samples, including at least three stories with a significant reporting and writing component.
JOB SPECIFICS
Contract position
Hybrid
FT position
LOCATION
1 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135
This position is located in Boston, MA, and requires on-site presence.
Salary Range
$70,000 - $70,000Compensation offered within this range is determined by skills, experience and internal pay equity.
GBH is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve are diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, GBH does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment, or promotion based on race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Application Process Assistance
GBH will reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. To initiate an accommodation request, contact the Human Resource department by sending an email to human_resources@wgbh.org or by calling 617-300-2000.