Dr. Melita Garza of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, won the 2024 essay contest sponsored by Journalism History. 

Originally the brainchild of Dr. Erika Pribanic-Smith (University of Texas at Arlington), the competition first began in 2018 and has featured essays around specific themes. This year’s competition focused on civil rights with the impetus being the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A panel of judges assessed the submitted essay proposals, and selected Dr. Garza’s as the best. She will receive a $100 prize and have her essay published in the journal. 

Three scholars – Ed Timke, Marcus Collins, and Otávio Daros – have been selected by Journalism History to receive funding this spring to advance diverse perspectives in media history. Journalism History is the official academic journal of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) History Division. The goal of the grants is to increase diversity research in the journal.

“These microgrant recipients will be conducting vitally important research in areas where the journal has gaps,” said Journalism History Editor Pam Parry. “The journal staff appreciates the leadership of the Publication Committee in conducting a diversity study of the journal in anticipation of our 50^th anniversary. As a result, we were able to identify gaps that needed more attention, and so the Division started the microgrant program to encourage research in those areas. These projects are a step forward in bringing greater diversity to media history.”