Meg Heckman is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media Innovation at Northeastern University. Her most recent book is a biography of newspaper publisher and leader in the twentieth century Republican party, Nackey Scripps Loeb (Political Godmother: Nackey Scripps Loeb and the Newspaper That Shook the Republican Party, University of Nebraska Press, 2020). Heckman's current work examines health journalism written by women in the mid-twentieth century.
How did you become involved with AJHA?
I first learned about AJHA nearly a decade ago but didn’t get involved until the pandemic when I presented some research in progress at an excellent virtual conference. It was such a great way to connect with new colleagues during an otherwise difficult time.
How does your professional experience as a journalist inform your teaching and/or research?
I spent roughly a dozen years as a reporter and, later, the digital editor at the Concord Monitor, New Hampshire’s capital city newspaper. That experience helps me teach core skills such as interviewing, newswriting and editing, but my time in the newsroom also taught me how to lead teams, manage projects and communicate expectations—all things that are crucial to successful teaching!
What topics or questions are you pursuing in your current research?
I have a few projects in the works right now, but the big one involves documenting how women journalists in the 1940s and 1950s shaped the evolution health/medical journalism. Outside of media history, I’m also involved in various efforts to encourage institutions of higher education to do more to help rebuild the local news ecosystem.
What question(s) do you wish fellow researchers or colleagues would ask about your work and/or interests?
My fellow media historians tend to ask great questions and share great advice, but I would love more opportunities to discuss how digital tools are reshaping the research process and our understanding of media history.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of academia?
Staying active and getting outside as much as possible are key to my mental health. I also enjoy cooking and spending time with my family.
