Spring 2006 • Volume 40, Number 3

Camonglio the media Newsletter of the History Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication History Division turns 40

By Ronald T. Farrar station and the subject matter we History Division Chair 1971 loved, journalism history, might well Back in the ‘Sixties, when the not be on board. There had been AEJ (as it was known then) decided some giants in our field—Frank fromnotes the head to abandon its one-size-fits-all Luther Mott and a few others—but convention program in favor of not many, only a handful still writing special-interest divisions, journalism and teaching journalism history. Otis did not found historians scurried to band together, Thus was the History Division L.A. Times, and Taylor mostly in the interest of self- created, with the underlying agenda preservation. There was plenty of that we who taught that course had did not found Globe excitement in teaching and research better improve our performance— By Dane S. Claussen, emerging at that time—but most of it engage more colleagues into our field, Head & Program Chair was coming from scholars in Theory product abler scholarship, teach our When , former and Methodology, not history. students more enthusiastically—or Journalism schools were morphing publisher of the , else. into Schools of Mass Commun- died recently, the Our History Division meetings ications, hiring bright young scholars reported that his ancestor, Harrison at the conventions each summer energetically bent on quantifying Gray Otis, had founded the Los provided much-needed opportunities everything in sight. Angeles Times while The New York for fellowship and, let’s face it, for Around the country, the old mutual encouragement. Joe Morrison Times reported that Otis had taken curriculum, which was created of North Carolina was the first to it over. around newspapers and hadn’t make a “state of the division” address. Which is it? Well, The Los Angeles changed much since, suddenly gave He entitled it “On Irrelevant History,” Times was founded in 1881, and Otis way to new courses dealing with and it was an eloquent appeal for continued on page 7 broader concerns, with the processes more meaningful research and for and effects of mass communications. sharper writing. (Both of which he On the inside Something had to give—and a exemplified.) • Northwestern offers new jour- yellowing, tired, newspaper-focused The following year, I waded in nalism history monograph series course in the history of journalism with a stern (and, in retrospect, • Where eneology and history appeared especially vulnerable. presumptuous) warning to my The academic train, some of us Flash! Medill did not found feared, would soon be leaving the continued on page 2 Distinguished historian remembers history division’s beginning in 1966 continued from page 1 something equally immaterial. Covert at Syracuse, Bill Taft at “3. Wanting to live in the past and Missouri, Don Shaw at North colleagues.The talk was later re- to glorify old newspapers, though Carolina, John Stevens at Michigan, printed in the Journalism Educator nobody quite knows why. and several others whose research (April, 1972). I quote from it here, “4. Being, for the most part, not would be adjudged top-of-the-line in not because the comments deserve well educated, nor recently educated. any era. There just weren’t many of remembering, but because they reflect “5. Refusing, even, to pull our them. the defensiveness (paranoia?) some weight on the university faculty; of Now, however, the passing years have journalism historians felt back then: owing our primary allegiance to a brought quantity as well as quality. “. . .We . . . are, in our own small specific craft rather than to scholarship; Lots of younger people have come ways, temporary custodians of the of being nonscholars in a community along, doing fine work—much of it journalist’s heritage. We like to of scholars, of being nonteachers in a effectively incorporating quantitative think our work is of the very first community of teachers. methods to augment and reinforce importance. But—to put it bluntly— “6. Being, in short, a conservative, traditional historical analysis. quite a few persons simply don’t agree even reactionary class – the Anybody who has visited colleagues that it is. Goldwaters of academic journalism on other campuses is likely to feel, as “I know that many of our — determined to preserve the status I do, that the media history course is colleagues in other disciplines. . .have quo, despite the fact that the status quo being well taught at many institutions some rather harsh things to say about remains something less than satisfac- around the country. Graduate student us. Some of the indictments, as I tory . . . .” and faculty research in the field has understand them, accuse us of: Well, the reference to Barry increased enormously, and there are “1. Having little or no interest in Goldwater is ridiculously out of date. more publication outlets for it. In basic research, or in new techniques So, too, I hope, is my defensive tone. other words, today’s History Division or research methodology. Things seem better now. is a going concern and, I would think, “2. Confusing with useful Don’t get me wrong. There were a source of pride and considerable investigation such non-projects as some fine journalism historians back satisfaction to its members on the ‘A History of the First Newspaper then – Ed Emery at Minnesota, occasion of the organization’s Fortieth in Flat Rock County, Tennessee,’ or Dwight Teeter at Wisconsin, Cathy Anniversary. Web sites examine media history and future Dozens of outstanding websites are editor for inclusion in a future issue. idorosen.com/mirrors/robinsloan. available to help aresearch and teach com/epic/ the history of mass media. New York World being delivered: Internet history: http://www.isoc. Below, you’ll find a listing of http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/ org/internet/history/ several that range from a movie of lcmp002/m2a31757.mpg The first 75 years of television the New York Herald being delivered History of Hearst Corp.: http://www. history: http://www.tvhistory.tv/ to a bunch of anxious newsboys to hearstcorp.com/about/timeline/ History of business reporting: http:// a pessimistic suggestion of what the hearst_timelineB3a.swf www.bizjournalismhistory.org/ future of mass media might hold. Media History timeline: http://www. Telegraph history: http:// If you have a favorite media history mediahistory.umn.edu/index2.html www.2020site.org/telegraphy/index. web site, please send it to the Clio Future of mass media: http://www. htm

2 Clio Winter 2005 Division heads have been distinguished scholars

The roster of History Divisions 1978 1994 chairs reads like an honors list of Paul V. Peterson, Ohio State Pat Washburn, Ohio distinguished scholars. These men and women have authored the books, 1979 1995 edited the journals, and discovered Robert Kahan, Iowa State Nancy Roberts, Minnesota the methodologies we use to teach 1980 1996 our students, and that guide our Sam Kuczun, Colorado own research projects. Many were Barbara Reed, Rutgers mentors to the current generations of 1981 1997 journalism historians. We list them Terry M. Hynes, David Spencer, Western Ontario in this issue of Clio to honor their Cal State Fullerton contributions to our field. 1998 1982 David T.Z. Mindich, 1966 and 1967 Jerilyn McIntyre, Utah St. Michael’s Warren C. Price, Oregon 1983 1999 1968 and 1969 David Nord, Indiana Kathleen Endres, Akron William E. Ames, Washington 1984 2000 1970 Warren T. Franske, Caroline Kitch, Temple Joseph L. Morrison, Nebraska-Omaha North Carolina 2001 1985 David Davies, 1971 Marion Marzolf, Michigan Southern Mississippi Ronald T. Farrar, 1986 Southern Methodist 2002 Owen Johnson, Indiana David Abrahamson, 1972 Northwestern 1987 Richard A. Schwarzlose, Jean Folkerts, Mount Vernon Northwestern 2003 Janice Hume, Georgia 1988 1973 Jeffrey Smith, Iowa Catherine Covert, Syracuse 2004 Pat McNeeley, South Carolina 1989 1974 Maurine Beasley, Maryland John D. Stevens, Michigan 2005 Dane Claussen, Point Park 1990 1975 Betty Winfield, Donald L. Shaw, Washington State North Carolina 1991 1976 Roy Atwood, Idaho Mary Ann Yodelis Smith, Wisconsin-Madison 1992 History Division Nickieann Fleener, Utah 1977 years Thomas H. Heuterman, 1993 1966-2006 Washington State Louise Benjamin, Georgia 40 Spring 2006 Clio 3 History Division calls for 2006 convention papers The History Division invites sub- include with their papers six 75-word Only full-time students not receiving missions of original research papers abstracts and one 150-word abstract. departmental travel support are eli- on the history of journalism and mass Abstracts should include the paper’s gible for these grants. communication. All research meth- title—but must exclude the author’s Send papers to: W. Joseph Camp- odologies are welcome, as are papers name and affiliation. bell, AEJMC History Division Re- on all periods and aspects of media Authors otherwise should fol- search Chair, School of Commu- history. For full details of the uniform low the AEJMC uniform paper call nication, MGC #300, American AEJMC paper call, see the web site at in preparing their papers. They are University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. http://www.aejmc.org/convention/ invited to submit with their papers NW, Washington, DC 20016–8017. 06convention/06papercallinfo/hard- a self-addressed, stamped postcard copycall1.htm. which will be used to acknowledge Papers will be evaluated on origi- that the papers were received by the nality and importance of topic; lit- Division’s Research Chair. erature review; clarity of purpose and Student papers: Graduate and un- significance; focus; use of original dergraduate students enrolled the and primary source material and how 2005–06 academic year are invited Clio they support the paper’s purpose and to enter the Warren Price Student conclusions; writing quality and or- Paper Competition. The Price Award Among the Media ganization, and the extent to which recognizes the History Division’s the paper contributes to and deepens best student paper and is named for the understanding of journalism and Warren Price, who was the Division’s Editor: Debbie van Tuyll mass communication history. first head. To enter this competition, (Augusta State University) Papers must not exceed 7,500 students must place “Price Competi- Webmaster: Kittrell Rushing words, or about 25 double-spaced tion” in the upper-right corner of the (University of Tennessee- pages, including notes. Authors may title page of their papers. Judges will Chattanooga) submit more than one research paper not be told whether they are review- Clio logo: Nat Newsome to the History Division, but only one ing student or faculty papers. (Augusta State University) paper per author will be accepted by Students who submit the Division’s Clio Among the Media is the Division for presentation at the top papers are eligible for small travel published quarterly by the History AEJMC convention. Authors should grants from the Edwin Emery Fund. Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. History Division checklist for Submissions to Clio are wel- come. Please send them to: Debbie convention paper submissions van Tuyll, Department of Languages, You know your paper is ready for ◊ included on a disk with paper in Literature and Communications, submission if it is: low-level ASCII, or Microsoft Word, Augusta State University, Augusta, in hardcopy form WordPerfect, MacWrite, or RTF GA 30904. Electronic copy, either ◊ disk or e-mail, is preferred. For in an envelope addressed to the typed in non-proportional font ◊ ◊ information, contact Van Tuyll at history division research chair (Courier) 706/737-1500, or e-mail her at: ◊ includes a 75-word abstract is ◊ is accompanied by the signed [email protected]. included (six copies) reproduction form Recent issues of Clio may be ◊ includes a 150-word abstract (one ◊ not under consideration else- accessed at: copy) where http://www.utc.edu/ ◊ does not exceed 7500 words ◊ to be presented at the conference Outreach/AEJMC- ◊ six copies are made by at least one author HistoryDivision/histpub.html

4 Clio Winter 2005 The Genealogist and the Historian: Borrowed methodology works for scholarship, too By Wally Eberhardt an important and engaging Let me tell you about Great Uncle University of Georgia (Emeritus) enterprise in recent decades. It has Gotthilf Eberhard just to bring this Talk about historians having spawned a lively publishing business, home to the media history crowd. an image problem. Consider numerous societies from the local After copying his Civil War record genealogists. They are often portrayed to international level, innovative at the National Archives I began as a dotty bunch of souls, usually approaches to tracking migration, tracking details of his life when hilts female, puttering about the census support of manuscript acquisition on ancestry.com and some Googling records and court records, trying to and preservation, conferences galore, led me to the Hayes Presidential find the odd factoid that establishes growing online research resources, Center in Fremont, Ohio. The Grandfather Wilfred or Grandmother degree programs at reputable colleges archivist told me Gotthilf was the Felicity as the lineal descendent of and universities, and, perhaps most historian for the 72nd Ohio Volunteer nobility, preferably British. And important, a rigorous set of standards Infantry (though he never wrote that if they can’t find a document that for carrying out the work of family history) and that he was part of a supports family lore, they’ll write the history. movement after the war to challenge family history to fit the unsupported About standards: Those who wish a general whose abysmal leadership in myth. certification in the field have to know Mississippi led 1,400 soldiers off to At least that’s the way they’re often as much or more than historians Andersonville and other Confederate seen by outsiders, perhaps even a about standards of proof. Consider prisons. By now I’d gone from the few two man within the academic the following excerpts from the family tree to a story with implications historical trade. Genealogical Proof Standard, cited related to newspapers and public Banish the image. Consider how in a recent article in the National communication in 19th century serious family historians go about Genealogical Society Quarterly(1): America. (Copies of the resulting their research. “We conduct a reasonably conference paper available, should Truth is, family historians - exhaustive search for all information you care to have one (2) ). - those with integrity, curiosity that is or may be pertinent to the I’d even suggest we invite a few of and persistence -- aren’t that much identity, relationship, event, or the better known family historians to different than those who “do” history situation in question. gatherings of media historians. We of any other kind. “We collect and include in our might learn a thing or two about how In retirement, this writer has been compilation a complete, accurate to go about our mutual interest in dragged, better, shamed into putting citation to the source or sources of understanding the past. order to the names on his family each item of information we use. tree. It has been a gentle shaming, “We analyze and correlate the trying to live up to the example set collected information to assess its 1. John Philip Colletta, “Tracking a Loner by a wife who is a dogged, honest quality as evidence. on the Move: J. W. Parberry Exposed by the detective when it comes to genealogy. “We arrive at a soundly reasoned, Genealogical Proof Standard,” Vol. 93 (June Nothing raises her eyebrows more coherently written conclusion.” 2005): 94-95. than to hear someone prattle on about And, you’ll also hear family 2. “Old Soldiers Never Forget: Brice’s Cross their connection to, say, Joseph of historians chatting about the work of Roads, Andersonville and Dr. Gessner’s Arimathea or a British Lord without historians like David Hackett Fischer, Campaign to Unseat General Sturgis,” being able to show more proof than who has written extensively on research paper presented at a Symposium on they heard it on good authority from migration (Bound away: Virginia and the 19th Century Press, the Civil War and Aunt Frieda every Thanksgiving. the Westward Movement, Albion’s Free Expression, University of Tennessee- In reality, genealogy has become Seed, The Great Wave). Chattanooga, Nov. 11, 2005.

Spring 2006 Clio 5 Journalists need to know more about journalism history continued from page 1 a whopper. But this also happens the newspaper, include Seattle joined the staff in 1882. He didn’t relatively frequently. Check the Weekly, Sept. 17, 2003; Business have ownership control until 1887. Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 26, 2003; Wire, Feb. 23, 2001, Jan. 5, 2000, This information is readily available The Washington Post, June 9, 2000; and The Seattle Times itself, May in almost every major history of Columbia Journalism Review, May- 30, 2000, Oct. 19, 1997, and April journalism or the newspaper industry, June 2000; The London Independent, 8, 1990 (an article that also cannot and--most notably—in Privileged May 18, 1999; , decide whether Blethen founded the Son, by Dennis McDougal, the April 4, 1999 and July 12, 1998; paper or not). biography of Otis Chandler. American Lawyer, July/August 1987; Even the Seattle Times’ own Web The Associated Press was not the and many others. site is more than a bit disingenuous only news organization that got it Here’s the real whopper: the January about its roots. It says that Blethen wrong. So did the St. Louis Post- 18, 1996, New York Times reported founded The Seattle Times Company, Dispatch (the Chandler obituary in that Joseph Medill Patterson, who not that he founded the Seattle Times which may or may not have been based was Joseph Medill’s grandson, “help newspaper. I wonder, however, how on the AP one), and so have a lot of found The Chicago Tribune.” That the average reader interprets that other newspapers and magazines: the was quite an accomplishment for line. San Diego Union-Tribune on Nov. someone who wasn’t born until Jan. Amon G. Carter is said to put 2, 2003; The Economist on April 6, 1879. together the merger of the Fort Worth 15, 2000; Agence France Presse wire The Boston Globe was founded Star and the Fort Worth Telegram service, March 19, 2000; American March 4, 1972 by six investors. in 1909, although he wasn’t named Journalism Review, January/February Charles H. Taylor was hired to help publisher and president of the Star- 2000; San Jose Mercury News, run the paper in August 1873. Yet Telegram until 1923. But that doesn’t Nov. 29, 1999; Editor & Publisher Taylor has been posthumously made stop journalists from calling him magazine, Oct. 3, 1998; California the sole founder of the newspaper by the founder of the Fort Worth Star- Journal, July 1, 1997; the New York Editor & Publisher magazine, Feb. Telegram. See the Sept. 27, 1987, St. Daily News on July 18, 1995; the 25, 2002; The New York Times, Feb. Petersburg Times. Chicago Sun-Times, May 10, 1992; 21, 2002; The Boston Globe itself, And how about Joseph Pulitzer? The New York Times, Nov. 11, 1990; Feb. 20, 2002, Nov. 28, 2001, June 6, Well, one could say that he founded and many others. 2001, Jan. 19, 1996; Jan. 4, 5 and 8, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch because But Otis is not the only famous 1996, Nov. 19, 1993, Aug. 1, 1992, he famously bought the St. Louis newspaper publisher who often gets Aug. 16, 1991, and Aug. 1, 1990 Dispatch out of bankruptcy in 1878, credit for something that he did not (despite what it says on the Globe’s and engineered its merger with the do. own Web site about the newspaper’s Post. But Pulitzer didn’t found either For example, Joseph Medill, history); and the Associated Press, the Post or the Dispatch, and calling contrary to assumptions and rumors, Feb. 20, 2002, June 9, 1987 (a story in him the founder of the Post-Dispatch did not found the Chicago Tribune. which the AP couldn’t decide whether is a rather loose usage of the term It was founded in 1847, he and his Taylor had founded the paper or not), “founder” in my book. I suspect business partners did not buy it until and June 28, 1979; and many others. many will assume that he founded 1855, and he did not have majority In 1896, Alden J. Blethen bought the Post, or the Dispatch or both of control until 1874. So while perhaps The Seattle Times, after success as an them, none of which is true. But, by it is an easy mistake to call Otis the owner of the Kansas City Journal and now, you know what I find. News founder of the L.A. Times, when he then the Minneapolis Tribune. The articles crediting Pulitzer with having became a part-owner of the paper Seattle Times was founded in 1883. founded the Post-Dispatch appeared in its second year, to call Medill the But again, numerous news articles founder of the Chicago Tribune is credit Blethen with having founded continued on next page

6 Clio Winter 2005 Factual errors result from lack of historical knowledge continued from previous page articles that credit Ochs with being the family who owns The New York in that paper, Nov. 27, 2005; Aug. the newspaper’s founder appeared in Times, as if Ochs himself had no 28, 2005; June 3, 2005; May 14, the New Yorker, Dec. 19, 2005 (by ancestors. 2005; Jan. 31, 2005. And those are media reporter Ken Auletta, no less!); This litany of silly factual errors just the 2005 dates. Very few articles New Orleans Times-Picayune, Nov. by news reporters writing about the in the Post-Dispatch make it clear 16, 2003; London Sunday Telegraph, history of their own profession and that Pulitzer didn’t found the Post or May 18, 2003; Rocky Mountain own industry could go on and on, but Dispatch, one of those articles being a News, Oct. 12, 2002; The Weekly I think I’ve made my point. From my Jan. 31, 2005 sidebar, on the history Standard, Oct. 11, 1999; Jerusalem own experience working as a reporter, of the company, to go along with the Post, Oct. 8, 1999; Atlanta Journal- editor, publisher, and professor, I can main news article about its sale to Constitution, July 20, 1999; Editor say that a lot of journalists out there Lee Enterprises (the story that calls & Publisher magazine, Dec. 14, don’t seem to know very much about Pulitzer the paper’s founder). 1996 the history of mass communication— Journalism historians know that The American Journalism Review, and most of them also don’t seem to The New York Times was founded October 2002, calls Ochs the care. This would not be any big deal in 1851 by Henry Raymond, and “founder” of the Times Company, if it simply meant that they weren’t that the current family, the Ochs/ a legal technicality that is easy to sitting at home reading biographies Sulzbergers, didn’t get involved in it misinterpret. Oddly, the Pittsburgh of E.W. Scripps on Saturday nights, until Adolph Ochs bought part of it in Post-Gazette, May 7, 1994, credited but easily corrected factual errors 1896—45 years later. However, news Ochs with being the “founder” of appearing in print…. Northwestern Press offers new series An ambitious new book series of the press in America.” titles and subjects. Having studied from Northwestern University Press Abrahamson is proud of the religion and its relation to the press offers a comprehensive examination new series, which he describes as in seventeenth century England and of the press in American history. “magisterial,” and he says the new spent years researching the press of Early offerings in the 40-plus- books will pertinent to everyone--not colonial America, I asked if I could volume series include two books that just journalism scholars. work on the proposed book that dealt examine questions of media coverage According to Abrahamson, about closest with those areas.” and gender as well as the reprint of half the books deal with a specific In addition to the original volumes, a classic work, according to a press historical period. The others deal with some important earlier works will be release from the press. Later books will special themes such as race, gender, reprinted as part of the series. One analyze a variety of topics. The series’ and the military. Many of the authors of those works will be sociologist general editor is David Abrahamson, are well-known journalism historians Herbert J. Gans’ 25-year-old classic, a former History Division chair. such as David Copeland, a professor Deciding What’s News. Two other He and Medill professor Dick at Elon University and the author of volumes published in 2005 include Schwarzlose, who died in 2003, the upcoming “The Development of The Unfinished Partnership of the conceived the idea for the series. a Free Press: The Enlightenment and Media Age by Maurine H. Beasley Medill Dean Loren Ghiglione Its Unruly Legacy.” and Women and the Press: The Struggle said of the series,“I just think it’s a “I was attending a conference of for Equality by Patricia Bradley. great series with important writers media historians, talking with David Abrahamson said he expects to coming out at a time when people Abrahamson, ” Copeland says. “I establish a regular publishing schedule are thinking and rethinking the role took a look at his list of tentative of six books a year.

Spring 2006 Clio 7 for papers and History Calls conferences Division American Journalism University of St. Thomas Officers Historians Association Mail #4372 The AJHA invites submissions for 2115 Summit Avenue its 25th annual convention, Oct. St. Paul, MN 55105 2005-2006 11-14 in Wichita, Kansas. Papers, Phone inquiries: 651-962-5253 panels, and abstracts of research in E-Mail: [email protected] progress may deal with any aspect Canadian Media History of journalism history. Deadline for Dane Claussen Ryerson University will host a submission is May 15, 2006. For full (Point Park) conference on the history of Ca- details regarding submission, see the Head nadian media May 31 to June 1. AJHA web site at http://www.berry. Keynote speaker is Michele Hilm- edu/ajha/ W. Joseph Campbell es, professor of media and culture at (American) the University of Wisconsin-Madi- Vice Head Who is a journalist? son. Her lecture is titled, “Soap Op- Media Ethics Colloquium and era, National Culture, and Transna- Research Chair at the University of St. Thomas tional Migrations.” As part of a decade-long series aimed Session topics inlcude consider- Debbie van Tuyll at enhancing scholarship in applied ations of media and war, media his- (Augusta State University) media ethics, the University of St. tory in French, audiences/publics, Secretary/Newsletter Editor Thomas will host the 2006 colloquium what media history is and what it is October 14-17 in Minneapolis/St. good for, theory and media history, Elliot King Paul, Minnesota. The colloquium - and nationality and media history. (Loyola of Maryland) the seventh of the series - will feature For more information on the con- 12 fellows working in teams of two ference, visit Ryerson’s web site at: PF&R Chair to explore the moral dimensions of http://www.ryerson.ca/journal/con- the question: Who is a journalist? ference.html. Aleen J. Ratzlass Selected fellows will receive an (Tambor College) honorarium and travel expenses. Teaching Standards Chair During the colloquium, fellows will present their work to each other and Kittrell Rushing solicit feedback. A group of fellows (Tennessee-Chattanooga) will also speak at a public symposium Webmaster at the colloquium’s end. Papers that result from the colloquium will be Patrick Washburn published in the Journal of Mass (Ohio) Media Ethics in 2007. Book Award Chair The deadline for proposals is April 1, 2006. For details, or to send paper Karen List or electronic submissions, contact: (Massachusetts) Wendy N. Wyatt Covert Award Chair Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

8 Clio Winter 2005