Intelligencer

Intelligencer is a blog featuring thoughtful essays on mass communication history teaching and research as well as highlighting the work of our members.

To suggest an essay, contact us at ajhaconvention@gmail.com.

PDFs of the Intelligencer in its previous newsletter form can be found at the Intelligencer archive. Visit the News page for press releases on the organization's activities.

  • 20 Mar 2019 1:44 PM | Melony Shemberger

    By Jordan Stenger, Augusta University

    Undergraduate and graduate students from universities in Alabama, Florida and Georgia presented their research at the American Journalism Historians Association’s Southeast Symposium in Panama City Beach, Fla., on Feb. 1 and 2.

    The Symposium kicked off on Friday, Feb. 1, with Leonard Teel’s talk on his book, Reporting the Cuban Revolution: How Castro Manipulated American Journalists. Teel recounted how he found his topic from a short newspaper topic and answered questions from students about the research and writing process.

    On Saturday, 21 students, many of whom were first-time presenters, shared their research and answered questions from the other Symposium attendees. Students said they found the Symposium to be a friendly and supportive conference setting, especially for beginners.

    Alex Sigars, a senior at Augusta University, was the first to present on Saturday.

    “I found the experience eye opening,” Sigars said. “It revealed to me the great diversity of journalism history research and the implications it can have on us today as a society.”

    Another undergraduate student from Augusta University, Alexis Parr, also found the experience to be rewarding.

    “The Panama City Research trip gave me the college experience that I’ve always wanted,” Parr said. “I loved getting to know my peers better while also improving my resume.”

    After a long day of presentations, conference co-coordinator Dianne Bragg from The University of Alabama presented awards for the best graduate and undergraduate papers.

    Mackenzie Bryan, an undergraduate student from the University of Florida, won first place for his paper, “How the Media Shaped the Political and Racial Narratives of the Louis vs. Schmeling Rematch.”

    “Winning first place was a huge honor,” Bryan said. “It’s the academic achievement that I’m most proud of, and I have to thank my professor, Dr. Bernell Tripp, for her guidance, her encouragement, and for simply believing in me and my writing.”

    Sigars, who won third place for her paper in the undergraduate division, said regarding her experience at the conference, “The tools I gained from going to this conference I will most assuredly continue to use in the future."

    Here is the complete list of paper award winners:

    Undergraduate Student Paper Winners

    1. How the Media Shaped the Political and Racial Narratives of the Louis vs. Schmeling Rematch — Mackenzie Bryan, University of Florida.

    2. The Augusta Chronicle’s Coverage of the Seminole Wars: How it Changed Over Time — Jordan Stenger, Augusta University.

    3. Progressive Era Georgia Suffrage Journalists Enforce and Utilize Social Contract Theory — Alex Sigers, Augusta University.

    Graduate Student Paper Winners

    1. Can A Flapper Be A Wife? A 1920s Marriage Editor Asks — Serena Bailey, University of Alabama.

    2. Sexist Sports Coverage and Commentary in The Times-Picayune (1891-1994): A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis — Nicole Morales, Universiy of Alabama.

    3. Incident or Massacre: Race, Riot, and Representation in The Palmetto State — Tanya Ott-Fulmore, University of Alabama.

  • 20 Mar 2019 1:39 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA) seeks nominations and applications for the editor of American Journalism, the organization’s quarterly refereed journal of media history, established in 1983 and published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis.

    The deadline for applications is Sept. 1, 2019.

    The position begins Jan. 1, 2021, with a transfer of some editorial duties in January 2020.

    The AJHA Board of Directors appoints the editor of American Journalism to a four-year term, subject to annual review and reconfirmation by the Board. Consecutive terms may be held.

    The editor receives a stipend of $1,000 per issue.

    The editor’s responsibilities include the timely processing of manuscripts submitted to American Journalism, whether on speculation or by solicitation; working with authors to prepare manuscripts for publication; and coordinating with the staff of Routledge, Taylor & Francis to publish four issues per year, including selection of content, editing, and proofreading.

    The editor works with a book review editor, digital media editor, and, if desired, an associate editor. The editor may recruit and appoint editorial staff members. In addition, the editor works with the Editorial Advisory Board, whose duties include continuous development of the journal and selection of the annual “Best American Journalism Article.” The editor organizes and presides over a meeting of the Editorial Advisory Board at the annual AJHA conference.

    The editor works with the treasurer and finance officer of AJHA on budget matters, handles all journal correspondence, and prepares an annual report for the AJHA Board and membership. The incoming editor will work with the editorial staff to maintain the journal’s website, which includes additional information, teaching materials, and author interviews. The incoming editor also will work with the editorial staff to share editorial content on social media.

    Applicants and nominees must be current members of AJHA. They should be able to write and edit clearly and concisely, and they must understand and appreciate the broad range of literature and methods of the media history field. Preference will be given to tenured applicants who have established reputations as journalism/media history scholars and are affiliated with an institution that can provide support to the editor with consideration to office space, travel, use of equipment, provision of student/staff assistance, and/or course release.

    Applications should include a statement indicating a willingness to serve, a curriculum vitae, and a letter of institutional support. Applications or nominations should be sent to the AJHA Publications Committee Chair Paulette D. Kilmer at paulette.kilmer@utoledo.edu.

  • 20 Mar 2019 1:20 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The American Journalism Historians Association invites paper entries, panel proposals, and abstracts of research in progress on any facet of media history for its 38th annual convention to be held Oct. 3-5 in Dallas, Texas.

    The deadline for all submissions is June 1, 2019.

    More information on the 2019 AJHA convention is available at https://ajha.wildapricot.org.

    The AJHA views journalism history broadly, embracing print, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, and other forms of mass communication that have been inextricably intertwined with the human past. Because the AJHA requires presentation of original material, research papers, research in progress, and panels submitted to the convention may not have been submitted to or accepted by another convention or publication.

    Research submitted for the conference must be significantly different from previous work, meaning the submitted research would represent new archival research, interviews, or content analysis that has not been presented before at a conference and represents a new departure from prior presented or published work. Research that previously was presented as a research-in-progress presentation at an AJHA convention or the Joint Journalism and Communication History Conference, however, may be submitted as a research paper. Each author may submit at most one paper, one research in progress, and one panel.

    RESEARCH PAPERS

    Authors may submit only one research paper. They also may submit one research-in-progress abstract and one panel proposal on a significantly different topic than the paper. Research entries must be no longer than 25 pages of text, double-spaced, in 12-point type, not including notes. The Chicago Manual of Style is recommended but not required.

    Papers must be submitted electronically as Word attachments. Please send the following:

     An email with the attached paper, saved with author identification only in the file name and not in the paper.

     A separate 150-word abstract as a Word attachment (no PDFs) with no author identification.

     Author’s info (email address, telephone number, institutional affiliation, and undergraduate student, graduate student, or faculty status) in the text of the email.

    Send papers to ajhapaper@gmail.com. Authors will be notified in mid-July whether their papers have been accepted.

    Authors of accepted papers must register for the convention and attend to present their research.

    Accepted papers are eligible for several awards, including the following:

    • David Sloan Award for the outstanding faculty research paper ($250 prize).
    • Robert Lance Award for outstanding student research paper ($100 prize).
    • Jean Palmegiano Award for outstanding international/transnational journalism history research paper ($150 prize).
    • J. William Snorgrass Award for outstanding minority-journalism research paper.
    • Maurine Beasley Award for outstanding women’s-history research paper.
    • Wally Eberhard Award for outstanding research in media and war ($50 prize).

    Research Committee Chair Erin Coyle (ekcoyle@lsu.edu) of Louisiana State University is coordinating paper submissions. Authors will be notified in mid-July whether their papers have been accepted.

    PANELS

    Preference will be given to proposals that involve the audience and panelists in meaningful discussion or debate on original topics relevant to journalism history.

    Preference also will be given to panels that present diverse perspectives on their topics.

    Entries must be no longer than three pages of text, double-spaced, in 12-point type, with one-inch margins. Panel participants must register for and attend the convention.

    Panel proposals must be submitted electronically as Word attachments. Please include the following:

     A title and brief description of the topic.

     The moderator and participants’ info (name, institutional affiliation, student or faculty status).

     A brief summary of each participant’s presentation.

    Send proposals to ajhapanels@gmail.com.

    No individual may be on more than one panel. Panel organizers must make sure panelists have not agreed to serve on multiple panels. Panel organizers also must secure commitment from panelists to participate before submitting the proposal.

    Moderators are discussion facilitators and may not serve as panelists. Failure to adhere to the guidelines will lead to rejection of the proposal.

    Panelists may submit a research paper and/or research in progress abstract.

    Rob Wells (rswells@uark.edu) of the University of Arkansas is coordinating the panel competition. Authors of panel proposals will be notified in mid-July whether their panels have been accepted. Panelists must register for the convention and attend.

    RESEARCH IN PROGRESS

    Each author may submit only one research in progress. The research-in-progress category is for work that will NOT be completed before the conference. Research in progress must be significantly different from previously presented or published research.

    Participants will give an overview of their research purpose and progress, not a paper presentation, as the category’s purpose is to allow for discussion and feedback on work in progress. RIP authors may also submit a research paper on a significantly different topic.

    For research-in-progress submissions, send a blind abstract of your study. Include the proposal title in the abstract. The abstract should include a clear purpose statement as well as a brief description of your primary sources. Abstracts must be no longer than two pages of text, double-spaced, in 12-point type, with 1-inch margins, excluding notes.

    Primary sources should be described in detail in another double-spaced page.

    Entries that do not follow these guidelines will be rejected.

    The AJHA research-in-progress competition is administered electronically.

     Proposals must be submitted as Word attachments, saved with author identification ONLY in the file names and NOT in the text of the proposal.

     Each proposal must be submitted as an attachment, with author’s info (name, project title, telephone number, email address, institutional affiliation, and student or faculty status) in the text of the email.

    Send research in progress proposals to ajharip@gmail.com. Authors will be notified in mid-July whether their proposals have been accepted. Authors of accepted proposals must register for the convention and attend.

    Authors whose work is accepted must register for and attend the convention.

    Keith Greenwood (greenwoodk@missouri.edu) of University of Missouri is coordinating the research in progress competition.

  • 14 Mar 2019 9:58 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The Center for Intercultural Dialogue announces its second annual video competition, open to students enrolled in any college or university during spring 2019. 

    Intercultural dialogue (ICD) is “the art and science of understanding the Other.” ICD can include international, interracial, interethnic and interfaith interactions, but it is always active (“a matter of what someone does”) rather than passive (“a matter of what someone knows”). Typically, people assume that ICD requires face-to-face interaction. This competition asks: “How do social media influence intercultural dialogue?” Entries must be between 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length and will be accepted May 1-31, 2019, at the URL to be posted to the CID website by May 1. Longer videos will be disqualified.

    You are invited to discuss intercultural dialogue in a class, perhaps showing winning entries from 2018, and to suggest students produce videos as their responses. Please encourage students to be creative, show off their knowledge and skills, and have fun with this topic.

    The top award winner will receive a $200 prize. All award-winning entries will be posted to the CID YouTube channel and highlighted on the CID website, LinkedIn group, Facebook group,and Twitter feed, through posts describing the creators and highlighting each of their videos. Perhaps most important to student learning, all entries will be sent comments from the judges. Winning entries last year came from not only the USA, but also Italy, the UK, and Peru.

    For more information, visit https://centerforinterculturaldialogue.org.

    Contact Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz, CID director, with any questions at intercult.dialogue@gmail.com.

  • 14 Mar 2019 9:46 PM | Melony Shemberger

    By Natascha Toft Roelsgaard, Ohio University

    Back in 2006, I spent nearly four weeks driving through the southern states with my family. From the back of a rental van, I took in the view of the open plains and tattered shotgun houses that Hurricane Katrina had ripped apart, as we drove through Louisiana toward Mississippi. To say that I was overwhelmed by what I saw would be a complete understatement. For a teenage kid coming from Denmark, a small Scandinavian country who invented the concept of “hygge” to sustain the long and dark winter months, natural disasters were something that belonged on TV, not in real life.

    As we witnessed the aftermath of the hurricane, I recall being captivated by the journalists who went out of their way to report on the people that Katrina had left behind, who were now facing displacement and poverty. I realized then the importance of journalism as a means for these people to tell their stories and voice their concerns; that the work and grits of these reporters were essential in telling the rest of the world what was going on. It took me nearly ten years, and a rather windy road, to realize that I wanted to be a journalist myself, and that I too wanted to tell the stories often untold. It hit me the first time I walked into Mike Sweeney’s office, who had by chance—and to my luck—been assigned as my academic adviser when I came to Ohio University for an exchange semester in 2015. There he was, amongst stacks of papers, books, and colorful oil paintings, leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, telling me about his life as a journalist and historian. Sweeney’s passion and guidance steered me toward a master’s degree in journalism. It has been more than three years since I first walked into his office, and I am now in my first year of pursuing a doctoral degree in journalism at E.W. Scripps. His mentorship and guidance—including his wicked Trivia knowledge—has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me to get where I am today. He was also the one who encouraged me to submit my work to AJHA.

    When I attended AJHA in Salt Lake City this fall, I was amazed by the kindness and camaraderie I encountered there. I had been told ahead of time that the organization would be extremely welcoming and that it was more like an academic family than a formal conference, and oh how true it was! Being amongst a group of fellow historians, whose work I have been admiring for years (Maurine Beasley!), watching them do their magic and share my work with them was both intimidating and humbling, but most of all, extremely uplifting.

    AJHA is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students to interact with historians from all across the country. It is without a doubt intimidating to present your work in front of your academic heroes, but their willingness to share their experience and research was overwhelming. The support and advice I received after presenting my work at the conference is invaluable to my further studies, and it has allowed me not only to broaden my research scope, but furthermore opened doors for potential collaboration with fellow historians in the future.

    I left the conference feeling inspired and supported by my newfound academic pack, and I cannot wait to go back and see everyone again.

  • 14 Mar 2019 9:16 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The American Journalism Historians Association seeks applications for its annual Joseph McKerns Research Grant Awards.

    The research grant is intended to provide research assistance and to recognize and reward the winners. Up to four grants for up to $1,250 each will be rewarded upon review and recommendation of the Research Grant Committee. McKerns Research Grant Awards may be used for travel or other research related expenses, but not for salary.
 Awardees must submit a brief article to the Intelligencer newsletter about their completed research by Sept. 1, 2019, discussing method, findings, complications, significance.

    Eligibility

    All current AJHA full members with a minimum of three years' membership at the time of application are eligible. The research must be related to mass media history. Awardees are expected to continue their membership through the grant period. Members may apply for a McKerns Research Grant once every five years.

    Application requirements:

    — An application form.

    —  A 1- to 3-page prospectus/overview of the project, including a budget (which should include a listing of amount and sources of other support, if appropriate), timelines, and expected outlets for the research.

    —  If appropriate, include Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the applicant's university.

    — A shortened curriculum vitae (no more than 3 pages). Grant applications must be submitted via email to Research Grant Committee Chair Erin Coyle at ekcoyle@lsu.edu. Materials may be submitted as PDF files or Word documents by June 1, 2019.

    Proposal

    Please complete this form and send it with electronic versions of your vita and proposal by June 1, 2019, to the email address below.

    Proposal Title:

    Name:

    Title:

    Address:

    Phone: (home) (cell)

    Email:

    Number of years as AJHA member:

    Year of any previous AJHA grant:

    Name, title and address of college/university official to notify if you receive a grant:

    For questions regarding the grant application or process, contact Erin Coyle, AJHA Research Grant Committee Chair, via email at ekcoyle@lsu.edu.

    By June 1, 2019, send the form, your proposal, vitae, and any other pertinent documents as email attachments to ekcoyle@lsu.edu.

    The AJHA Research Grant Award is designed to provide research assistance to qualified members. Up to four grants for up to $1,250 each will be awarded each year.

    All current AJHA full members with a minimum of three years' membership at the time of application are eligible. The applicant must be the principal investigator of the research project. The research project must be related to mass media history. Awardees are expected to continue their membership through the grant period.

    Proposals may be returned to applicants with requests for additional information.

    DEADLINE: June 1, 2019

  • 09 Feb 2019 3:59 PM | Melony Shemberger

    AEJMC’s History Division announces the 35th annual competition for the Covert Award in Mass Communication History.

    The $500 award will be presented to the author of the best mass communication history article or essay published in 2018. Book chapters in edited collections also may be submitted.

    The award was endowed by the late Catherine L. Covert, professor of public communications at Syracuse University and former head of the History Division. 

    An electronic copy in .pdf form of the published article/essay/chapter should be submitted via email to Dr. Sheila Webb, sheila.webb@wwu.edu, by March 1, 2019. The publication may be self-submitted or submitted by others, such as an editor or colleague.

  • 12 Jan 2019 3:27 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The American Journalism Historians Association invites nominations for two awards honoring significant service to the study and understanding of media history.

    Kobre Award

    The Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History is the organization's highest honor. The Kobre Award recognizes individuals with an exemplary record of sustained achievement through teaching, research, professional activities, or other contributions to the field of journalism history. Award winners need not be members of the AJHA. Nominations for the award are solicited annually, but the award need not be given every year. Those making nominations should present, at minimum, a cover letter that explains the nominee's contributions to the field and a vita or brief biography of the nominee. Supporting letters for the nomination are welcome and encouraged. For a list of past winners, see https://ajha.wildapricot.org/kobre.

    Distinguished Service to Journalism History Award

    The Distinguished Service to Journalism History Award recognizes contributions by an individual outside our discipline who has made an extraordinary effort to further significantly our understanding of, or our ability to explore, media history. Nominations are solicited annually, but the award is given only in exceptional situations. Thus, it is not awarded every year. Those making nominations for the award should present, at minimum, a cover letter that explains the nominee's contributions to the field and a vita or brief biography of the nominee. Supporting letters for the nomination are welcome and encouraged.

    Deadline: The deadline for submitting nominating materials for both awards is May 15, 2019.

    Submissions: Electronic submissions are preferred via email to Tom Mascaro, Professor, Bowling Green State University, mascaro@bgsu.edu.

    Alternatively, postal submissions may be sent to the following address: Tom Mascaro, AJHA Service Awards Chair, 33905 LaMoyne St., Livonia, MI 48154.


  • 19 Dec 2018 12:35 PM | Melony Shemberger

    The deadline has been extended until Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, to submit proposals to the Media & Civil Rights History Symposium.

    The School of Journalism and Mass Communications of the University of South Carolina in Columbia will host the biennial symposium, scheduled for March 8-9, 2019.

    The event welcomes scholars from various disciplines and approaches that address the vital relationship between civil rights and public communication from local/national/transnational contexts, perspectives and periods. The symposium will take place in conjunction with the AEJMC Southeast Colloquium.

    Paper abstracts (up to 500 words) and panel sessions (up to 1,000 words) are being accepted on all aspects of the historical relationship between media and civil rights.

    Abstracts for papers and research-in-progress must include a title, brief description of the research, and some primary sources.

    Panel proposals must include a title, brief description of the panel and panelists. 

    For more information, visit http://bit.ly/uofsc-sjmc-mcrhs or contact Dr. Kenneth Campbell, director, Media & Civil Rights History Symposium, at kcampbell@sc.edu. 

    In addition, the call to submit entries for the Farrar Award in Media & Civil Rights History has been extended to Jan. 7.

    The award recognizes the best journal article or chapter in an edited collection on the historical relationship between the media and civil rights.

    Submitted articles or chapters should be works of historical scholarship and must have been published in 2017 or 2018. Submissions that address the media and civil rights from a range of local/national/transnational contexts, periods, and perspectives are encouraged.

    Scholars may nominate and submit their own work or the work of others. A national panel of experts will judge the contest. 

    The recipient of the award will receive a plaque and $1,000 and must present the scholarship in a featured address at the Media & Civil Rights History Symposium in March.

    Email PDF of submission by Jan. 7, 2019, to the following:

    Dr. Kenneth Campbell, Chair
    2019 Farrar Award in Media & Civil Rights History
    School of Journalism and Mass Communications
    University of South Carolina
    Columbia, SC 29208
    Email: kcampbell@sc.edu

  • 10 Dec 2018 4:37 PM | Melony Shemberger


    The new Journalism History podcast launched by Teri Finneman (Kansas), Nick Hirshon (William Paterson) and Will Mari (Northwest) is now live with several episodes available. The team encourages you to incorporate episodes into your spring syllabi as homework assignments for students.

    Episodes are available on iTunes, the purple Podcasts app on iPhones and at this website: https://journalismhistorypodcast.podbean.com/

    We are looking for episode sponsors for our spring semester shows. Cost is $25. Authors can promote their books or universities can promote their programs.

    Questions? Email Teri at finnemte@gmail.com.

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