Special Events

AJHA Awards Reception| Local Journalist Reception |Donna Allen Roundtable Luncheon| Gala Dinner

Attendees enjoy a plated, table service lunch as AJHA honors the winners of the Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History and the National Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The Award for Excellence in Teaching honors a college or university teacher who excels at teaching in the areas of journalism and mass communication history, makes a positive impact on student learning, and offers an outstanding example for other educators.

Here is a link to the Awards page with information about this year's honorees.

AJHA annually bestows its Outstanding Local Journalist Award for Substantial Contribution to the Public Interest to a journalist local to the convention city whose work has had a positive impact on the community. The recipient serves as a featured speaker at the Thursday evening reception. Reception attendees enjoy hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar at this event.

This year's honoree is television news anchor Jerry Revish.

Jerry Revish is an award-winning journalist who helped write the first draft of news history in central Ohio for more than four decades, delivering stories from throughout the community, across the state and around the world.

Revish launched his career in 1972 as a reporter at WBBW Radio in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. Revish was the first Columbus TV journalist to report from Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War in 1990. His work from the region won an Emmy Award.

Revish helped Columbus bodybuilder Walter Smith — wrongfully convicted of rape — win his freedom through DNA testing.The Jerry Revish Restored Citizens Award — named in his honor — is given annually to an ex-offender who’s excelled in his/her reentry to society. Revish has received many awards, including thirteen Emmys and four regional Edward R.Murrow Awards. He was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2005.

Revish currently serves as senior pastor at Unity Temple Church of God in Christ in Columbus.

Donna Allen Roundtable Luncheon ♦ Friday, Sept. 29
Additional charge

The annual Donna Allen Luncheon celebrates contributions of women to the field of journalism. American Journalism Historians Association invites a woman journalist local to the convention city as its honored guest and featured speaker for the luncheon.

This year, AJHA is pleased to feature two women that reflect the ideals of Donna Allen: Edwina Blackwell Clark, Executive Editor of the Columbus Dispatch and Angela Pace, Director of Community Affairs for WBNS-10TV. 

Edwina Blackwell Clark is executive editor of The Columbus Dispatch. An Ohio native, Edwina has previously served as editor, publisher, and senior vice president for Audience with Cox newspapers in Ohio. Throughout all of her previous news leadership positions, she has focused on the needs of readers by creating content that engages and informs.

A graduate of Ohio University, Clark also has an MBA degree from the University of Dayton. Clark’s professional experience includes work in higher education and the nonprofit sector. Prior to her current role, she served as senior director of Communications for the Alzheimer’s Association in Ohio.

As executive editor, her focus is on merging the best of traditional journalism with today’s digital tools to provide new opportunities for the community to engage with the Dispatch’s content.

Pace has served as a liaison between WBNS-10TV and the Central Ohio non-profit community since 2006. Angela anchored the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions of WBNS-10TV Eyewitness News for 13 years, beginning her on-air duties in March of 1993. Prior to working at 10TV, she worked at WCMH-TV for 13 years. As a life-long resident of central Ohio, Pace has developed strong connections with the Columbus community and serves on several boards that demonstrate her commitment to promoting the arts including the Lincoln Theater Association, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts and the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

The Columbus community has recognized Pace’s commitment to the community with many awards and recognitions. Among them are the Community Service Award from the Columbus Urban League in 2006 and the Columbus Bar Association established a foundation in her name. A large portion of the funds from that foundation was used to help build the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where the Welcome Room is named in her honor. She has won three Emmys and a regional Telly award. In addition, Pace was named one of the Top 50 Icons in Columbus by the Columbus Bicentennial Guide.   

Gala Dinner ♦ Saturday, Sept. 30 ♦ Sidebar Tapas Bar & Grill, Additional charge

The closing event for the annual AJHA convention enables attendees to network and reminisce over the convention's activities in a social setting. The Gala will be hosted by the Sidebar Tapas Bar & Grill at 122 East Main Street, just across the street from the conference hotel. Sidebar aims for a relaxed atmosphere,  charming personality and great food. The menu features an eclectic blend of styles with the largest emphasis on South American food raised to new and unusual heights.