By: Anthony Montalto

What started as a retreat for professors to take a step back and share research has blossomed into a thriving yearly conference for scholars of journalism history to connect.

On Feb. 7, 2026, the American Journalism Historians Association will hold its annual Southeast Symposium in Panama City Beach, Florida. Last February, 16 students attended the Symposium and gave presentations on topics ranging from method acting, to media coverage of Olympic gymnastics, to how cult leaders used media to brainwash their followers.

As in previous years, the 2025 symposium began on a Friday night, with students and faculty from five universities gathering to share a meal together. In true Gulf Coast fashion—it was seafood! Saturday morning, the conference room buzzed as the group prepared for a day of swapping experiences and knowledge.

For many student presenters, this was the first time they had shared their work at a conference. University of Alabama graduate student Lyric Franklin was one of the presenters.

“My favorite part was having the experience of presenting my work at a conference, getting to meet other students, and learning about their journalism passions,” Franklin said about the event.

Attendees also heard from David Bulla and 2025 AJHA President Debbie van Tuyll, editors of the Southeastern Review of Journalism History. Bulla and van Tuyll shared the journal’s story and described the process of submitting a paper for publication.

Beyond the presentations, the symposium was a place for students and faculty alike to bond over a shared love of history. University of Alabama graduate student Chloe Rigdon summed it all up: “Meeting professors from other universities, and gaining career advice from them, was such a valuable experience. I am so grateful I was able to attend this conference!”

The 2026 AJHA Southeast Symposium will be Feb. 6-8 in Panama City Beach, Florida. For more information about participating in 2027, contact Dianne Bragg at dmbragg@ua.edu.

Anthony Montalto is a Master's student at the University of Alabama.