By: Erin Coyle

I fondly recall Professor Michael S. Sweeney auctioning off items during the first American Journalism Historians Association Convention that I attended. He kindly coaxed friends to bid on books, memorabilia, and an AJHA hoodie to support graduate student travel to the conference.

The tradition of providing this financial assistance exemplifies AJHA goals to foster the advancement of research and to build connections among journalism historians. The organization briefly shifted to collecting monetary donations to raise travel funding for students. After receiving a monetary donation from the Sweeney family as a seedling for Sweeney Graduate Student Travel Stipends, the organization resumed holding auctions to support student participation in annual conferences and build connections among members in 2022.

For the past two years, members have donated books, art, and other items. Proceeds have paid for Sweeney stipends. Students who have presented at an annual convention, attended most convention sessions, and volunteered during the convention have received these awards.

“As a broke graduate student, receiving financial aid to attend the annual conference has helped me in more ways than I can mention,” Claire Rounkles wrote in an email.

Rounkles, a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri and an assistant professor at The University of Memphis, has participated in coordinating auctions since 2022. These efforts provided valuable opportunities for her to interact with students and faculty during annual conventions.

Eric Boll, an Ohio University graduate student who received Sweeney stipends in 2022 and 2023, described AJHA conventions as welcoming and accessible. Receiving support to attend the 2022 convention meant so much to Boll that he asked Bob Woodward to autograph a book that Boll and Ohio University Professor Aimee Edmondson donated for the 2023 American Journalism Historians Association auction.

“I could not have gone to any of the AJHAs without the assistance of the Sweeney fund,” Boll said.

Raja Das, an Ohio University graduate student who received a 2023 Sweeney Travel Stipend, indicated that such funding is important for international students to be able to attend conferences.

“I am glad that the Sweeney Fund Award also ensures that we can be among diverse communities and secure us a home away from home," Das wrote.

The 2023 auction raised $2,758, and six students received Sweeney stipends. The auction committee hopes to raise $3,000 in 2024 to provide more support for graduate students.

Seventeen members donated 66 items for the 2023 auction. Members wishing to donate items for the 2024 auction should submit information about each item before September 20. You can bid on items during  the week of the conference.  Donated items must be brought to the conference hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. Recipients of items must bring their items home from the conference.

“The auction is an important way that AJHA can support and encourage our new generation of brilliant media history scholars,” said Jon Marshall, who chairs the auction committee. “It’s also a fun way for people to interact during the conference and win some cool things.”

Erin Coyle is an associate Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Temple University Lew Klein College of Media and Communication, an affiliate Professor of Law in the Temple University Beasley School of Law, and member of the AJHA Board of Directors and the AJHA Auction Committee.