Thursday, Aug. 5, virtual meeting
6:45 p.m. PT/7:45 p.m. MT/8:45 p.m. CT/9:45 p.m. ET
The virtual AEJMC history division meeting in early August included a summary of the division’s activities during 2020-21, leadership voting, transitions and information, and a presentation of the success of Journalism History and its affiliated activities. More details, including a review of the meeting minutes, follows below.
Brief end-of-year status report
The outgoing chair, Dr. Will Mari (Louisiana), called the meeting to order at 8:49 p.m., CST. Last year’s meeting minutes were approved (following a second by Dr. Cayce Myers, verbally) and Dr. Mari gave a brief 2020-21 year-in-review report. For research initiatives, he mentioned our journal having a new editor and book reviews moving online. He also discussed conferences being virtual and JJCHC being postponed. For PF&R/research, the division had a 9/11 panel, a NAJA panel, and a webinar with Jonathan Karl (ABC’s Washington correspondent). For research/teaching, we held a student podcast contest and our podcast downloads have tripled. For teaching/PF&R, highlights included a 9/11 essay series and increased media coverage. Other division activities included a new website and Facebook page. Outside of convention activities, 47 members were involved in a division role and there have been 69 Clio/website posts with new content since last August.
Mentorship program
Dr. Erika Pribanic-Smith (UT-Arlington) discussed the mentorship program which is one way for junior faculty to connect with senior faculty. This past year we had 16 pairs. The program is for any career stage and we are about to start it up again for this coming year.
Membership
Membership is down slightly since last year but that is normal across AEJMC because of the pandemic. Other organizations in our field have seen similar membership dips. The History Division remains one of the largest, most active AEJMC divisions.
Incoming chair Dr. Cayce Myers (Virginia Tech) commented that we expect to recover members when we return to in-person conferences. Conference and travel funding being reinstated will help as well.
Finances
Dr. Mari commented that our finances are very healthy with over $35,000 in savings. Former chair, Dr. Teri Finneman (Kansas), has been working with AEJMC and keeping a close eye on our finances for the last three years. She reported that our journal is also doing very well with $25,000 in savings. However, it is hard to predict if we will continue seeing a continued, similar revenue stream with the journal like we have been seeing.
Journalism History reports
Journalism History’s new editor, Dr. Pam Parry (Southeast Missouri), said she is excited about her new role but also respectful of the responsibility. She reported that the journal is off to a good start. She has a good staff assembled with associate editors Drs. Dianne Bragg (Alabama) and Kimberly Mangun (Utah), book review editor Dr. Sonya DiPalma (North Carolina-Asheville), and online content coordinator Dr. Pribanic-Smith. Dr. Parry explained that the book reviews moving online will allow for one more article per issue starting in 2022. The journal’s fall issue is already done and the staff is working on the winter issue.
The journal currently has 79 reviewers and Dr. Parry wants to recognize them a little more moving forward. She would also like to see the journal have a more international presence, have more submissions, and is looking ahead to the journal’s 50th anniversary.
Dr. Pribanic-Smith discussed the very active journal website. In the past year, additions included over forty podcast transcripts, thirteen book reviews (since February), and various essays. She reminded the membership about the just launched call for the diversity essay series. The website has seen a steady stream of unique visitors, including visitors from 130 different countries.
Next Dr. Finneman discussed the phenomenal response we’ve seen with our podcasts. She is in particular excited about how our podcasts have gotten into the general public. Our top show overall is “why does journalism history matter.” Dr. Finneman’s PR student graduated so she needs another PR student to help market the show. Dr. Finneman encouraged all members to use the podcast in lessons. It’s a great way to incorporate “guest speakers” and it helps build our brand and establish Journalism History as our journal. There are 95 episodes for members to choose from so they cover a wide variety of topics.
Dr. DiPalma talked about the smooth transition from the previous book review editor, Dr. Melita Garza. There are thirteen book reviews now online and reviews are set through the fall. If members are interested in being book reviewers, they should reach out to her.
Dr. Finneman discussed submissions. We saw an increase in submission last year after actively reaching out to presenters at conferences; Dr. Parry mentioned we are actively reaching out at AEJMC. Submissions are down year-to-date, but we have been dealing with the continued pandemic and archives being closed. Dr. Finneman said an impact factor for the journal is being explored. Dr. Parry discussed how eventually she would like to get the acceptance rate down as that in many ways speaks to selectivity and quality.
Dr. Finneman mentioned that the publications committee is looking to do a full analysis of our coverage as it relates to topics such as LGBTQ, disability, and minorities. We’d like to see more submissions in those areas.
Website
Dr. Keith Greenwood (Missouri) ensured a smooth transition to our new site mediahistorydivision.com this spring. There are still some behind-the-scenes type of work to be completed. We will need a new webmaster in the new year as Dr. Greenwood is stepping down.
2021 conference overview
Dr. Mari explained we had 36 papers/abstracts submitted to the conference. This year’s research chair, Dr. Maddie Liseblad (CSU Long Beach), said that was down from last year but that has been the trend for most other divisions too. Our acceptance rate was 50%. Our division had 67 judges so each judge had a max of two items to review.
Dr. Mari said there are no conference sites to vote on as we will be in Detroit in 2022, Washington D.C. in 2023, Philadelphia in 2024, and then “back” to San Francisco in 2025 and “back” to New Orleans in 2026.
Next Dr. Mari asked for input about issues with the current conference in terms of the platform; none were reported. Dr. Mari explained the platform this year had more security to combat some of the Zoom bombings that were experienced last year. He also said while we hope the conference is back in person next year, we may utilize some online elements. Dr. Amber Roessner (Tennessee) asked that Dr. Mari provide input to AEJMC that participants are allowed into online meeting “rooms” fifteen minutes before instead of the now only allowed five minutes. He replied that he would pass that onto the AEJMC chain of command.
Next our paper award winners were honored. The first-place faculty paper went to Dr. Elizabeth Atwood (Hood College) for her paper “Deadline: A History of Journalists Murdered in America.” The first-place student paper and the Diversity in Journalism History Research Award went to Autumn Linford (North Carolina-Chapel Hill) for “Perceptions of Progressive Era Newsgirls: Framing of Girl Newsies.” Second-place faculty paper was Dr. Noah Arceneaux (San Diego State) for “Acadian Airwaves: A History of Cajun Radio” and second-place student paper was Lexie Little (Georgia) with “Cementing Their Heroes: Historical Newspaper Coverage of Confederate Monuments.” Third-place faculty paper was Dr. Tamar Gregorian’s (Tulane) “The Making of ‘The Young Budgeter’: The American Girl Magazine’s Role in a Girl Scout’s Life During the Great Depression” while third-place student paper was Carolina Velloso (Maryland) with her “Race Films and the Black Press: Representation and Resistance.” Dr. Mari also acknowledged Dr. Jennifer Moore (Minnesota-Duluth) as the division’s Outstanding Reviewer Award winner. Dr. Liseblad added Dr. Michael Buozis (Muhlenberg) as the winner of the Top Extended Abstract Award for his research “Targeting the Trades, Press Associations, and J-schools: Tobacco Industry Mapping and Shaping of Metajournalistic Discourses.”
Voting on research chair and funding
Dr. Mari discussed the nomination of the second vice chair, Dr. Rachel Grant (Florida). Dr. Grant has served as the division’s Clio editor and membership co-chair and has a Ph.D. from Missouri. Dr. Mari made a motion that was seconded by members both verbally and in the chat function. The membership voted for Dr. Grant as the division’s new research chair, with no objections recorded.
Next up for a vote was a motion, seconded by Dr. Myers, to reauthorize $500 in division funding to support the journal’s podcast. Dr. Finneman explained it was to be used for transcriptions and the website that hosts audio. Dr. Mari made the motion and it was seconded by members, inc. Dr. Erika Pribanic-Smith, both verbally and in the chat function. The membership voted to grant the funding reauthorization, with no objections being recorded.
2021-22 leadership
Dr. Mari presented the full 2021-20 leadership team with new people highlighted on his slide in bold. Members in new positions include Dr. Grant in her research chair role, Dr. Ken Ward (Pittsburg State) as the teaching standards chair, Dr. Melissa Greene-Blye (Kansas) as PF&R chair, Dr. Kathryn McGarr (Wisconsin) as Clio editor and membership co-chair, Dr. Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen (Idaho) as membership co-chair, Tara Mesyn (Michigan State) and Carolina Velloso (Maryland) as student liaisons, and Dr. Scott Morton (Catawba College) as the Southeast Colloquium research chair.
Dr. Mari also introduced the various committees and committee members. The members in new committee roles include Dr. Shery Kennedy Haydel (Loyola of Louisiana) and Dr. Dale Cressman (BYU) on the publications committee, Dr. Cayce Myers (Virginia Tech) on the Covert committee, Dr. Mari on the Covert committee, Dr. Amber Roessner (Tennessee) on the Covert committee and as chair of the senior scholar (Shaw) committee, Dr. Ken Ward on the teaching award committee, and Dr. Marilyn Greenwald (Ohio) as chair of the book award committee (Note: there was a switch made for the book committee after the business meeting. Dr. Gwyn Mellinger is now the chair, with Dr. Greenwald a committee member).
The Journalism History staff includes a new editor in Dr. Pam Parry, new associate editors Drs. Dianne Bragg and Kim Mangun, new book editor Dr. Sonya DiPalma, and new social media co-coordinator Claire Rounkles.
Incoming chair’s remarks
The outgoing chair, Dr. Mari, and the incoming chair, Dr. Myers, had their gift exchange. Then Dr. Myers gave short remarks about his role as the new division chair that included an overview of his goals for the year. The division is doing well – having been left in capable hands by previous chairs – and Dr. Myers wants to continue that trajectory. His goals include supporting members as we transition to in-person events, continue recruitment of scholars into the division, continue supporting both young and seasoned scholars, continue support and presence of regional conferences, continue outreach to the broader historical research community and looking for more partnerships, and exploring a pre-conference for next year’s conference in Detroit.
Dr. Mari made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 p.m. and it was seconded both verbally and in the chat function by Dr. Teri Finneman.
Maddie Liseblad (CSU Long Beach), 2020-21 research chair, 2021-2022 vice-chair/program chair, madeleine.liseblad@csulb.edu