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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 Otis Chandler, former and Methodology, not history. students more enthusiastically—or Journalism schools were morphing publisher of the Los Angeles Times, else. into Schools of Mass Commun- died recently, the Associated Press 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.