How did you become involved with AJHA?

My mentor Joseph McKerns was a founding member, and Wally Eberhard one of the professors at The University of Georgia where I earned my doctorate, was an active member. They both inspired me to submit my research to the AJHA conferences eventually leading me to submit it to American Journalism for publication. 

My first conference was in Louisville, Kentucky where I served as a discussant for one of the paper presentations. This turned out to be a family trip in that my husband and then 3-year-old daughter drove there from Columbus, Ohio. Over the years, I’ve participated as either a panelist, moderator or paper presenter.

One of the many things that I like about the AJHA conferences is that they tend to be located in mid-sized cities where, depending on distance, one can comfortably drive to them. I have been able to drive to two other conferences: Cleveland in 2004 and Pittsburgh in 2024. Of course, I must include Columbus as being another convenient location where I had the pleasure and honor of serving as a co-host.

I also like the camaraderie at the conferences. We can share and critique our research ideas and teaching strategies in a friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere.

You have previously discussed that watching and reading coverage of the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War as a child in the 1960s inspired you to become a journalist and that you aim to transfer the notion that journalism can change society to your students. How do you communicate the powerful role journalism has to students during a time when many in the country distrust the press and believe journalists do not have the public’s best interest in mind?

For the past five years I have taught Crime and the News Media, Stereotypes in the Media and Strategic Communication Writing. In each of these classes, I’ve encouraged my students to tap into and embrace the power of their own, unique voices, and that they can and should use their voice in all areas of their lives. While they are made aware of how traditional, legacy media has changed society, they are also shown how they can use the newer, evolving media to make a difference. I also share with them the challenges that they are likely to face, regardless of profession, in advocating for the public’s best interest.

I stress the importance of seeking the truth even if it is unflattering to one’s viewpoint. While I encourage students to express different viewpoints, I also lovingly correct them if the viewpoints are not based on facts.

What question(s) do you wish fellow researchers or colleagues would ask about your work and/or interests?

What are the connections between my research and personal experiences?

How can we use historical media as tools for searching our family histories?

How can we use the Black press as a tool for either filling in historical gaps or correcting historical inaccuracies?

What tips or advice do you have for others exploring similar topics, archives, or questions that you examine in your research on the Black press?

Don’t limit yourself to digital sources. They only go back so far. Because we are doing historical research, we may have to look at hard copies of print media sources. Use hard copy indexes such as The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature and The Reader's Guide to Business Periodicals

Record interviews with older relatives and friends and ask them details about their lives. This can include such details as their first day of school, games they played when they were children, favorite outfits and of course the media they consumed.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of academia?

I love consuming media about crime. I’ve practically memorized the plots and lines to episodes of Law & Order and Law & Order SVU. One of my favorite authors is John Grisham. I’m currently reading Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by Grisham and Jim McCloskey. I plan to assign one of the chapters to my students in the Crime in the News Media class.

I also love to travel, especially to places that are driving distance. I enjoy stopping in some small towns and shopping at some of the independently owned boutiques.

In my spare time I also do Jazzercise, an activity that I’ve done for more than 30 years. When time permits, I have gone to classes during my travels.

Felecia Jones Ross is an associate professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University.