AJHA Awards

Kobre | Book Award | Distinguished Service to Journalism History | Excellence in Teaching | Local Journalist Award

The Margaret Blanchard Doctoral Dissertation Prize

Deadline for entries (postmark date): February 1, 2009.

The AJHA Margaret A. Blanchard Doctoral Dissertation Prize, given for the first time in 1997, is awarded annually for the best doctoral dissertation dealing with mass communication history. An honorarium of $500 accompanies the prize, and a $200 honorarium is awarded to each honorable mention.

Eligible works shall include both quantitative and qualitative historical dissertations, written in English, which have been completed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. For the purposes of this award, a "completed" work is defined as one which has not only been submitted and defended but also revised and filed in final form at the applicable doctoral-degree-granting university by December 31, 2008.

To be considered, nomination packets must include:

(a) One copy of the complete dissertation;
(b) Four copies each of the following items, with all author, school, and dissertation committee identification of any kind whited-out:
            (i.) a single chapter from the dissertation [preferably not to exceed 50 manuscript pages, not including notes, charts or photographs],
            (ii.) a 200-word dissertation abstract,
            (iii.) the dissertation table of contents;
(c) a letter of nomination from the dissertation chair/director or the chair of the university department in which the dissertation was written;
(d) a cover letter from the nominee indicating a willingness, should the dissertation be selected for a prize, both to attend the awarding ceremony and to deliver a public presentation based on the dissertation at the 2009 American Journalism Historians Association Annual Convention, October 6-8, 2009 in Birmingham, AL.

Note: Regarding Paragraph (b.)(i.) above, as a guide to selecting a chapter for submission, the Award Committee has in the past expressed a preference for a chapter which, if possible, highlights the work's strengths as a piece of primary-sourced original research.

Nominations, along with all the supporting materials, should be sent to:

The deadline for entries is a postmark date of February 1, 2009.

The Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History

The organization's highest honor recognizes individuals with an exemplary record of sustained achievement in journalism history 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 for the award should present, at the minimum, a cover letter that explains the nominee's contributions to the field as well as a vita or brief biography of the nominee.

Nominations are due by May 1, 2009, and should be submitted to:

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The AJHA Book of the Year Award

Recognizes the best in journalism history or mass media history published during calendar year. The book must have been granted a first-time copyright in 2008. Entrants should submit four copies of their books to the book award coordinator by March 31, 2009.

Send materials to:

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Distinguished Service to Journalism History Award

Recognizes practical journalists who through their work have made a contribution in some way to journalism history. Nominations for the award are solicited annually, but the award need not be given every year.

Nominating letters and supporting materials should be submitted by May 1, 2009, to:

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AJHA National Awards Program for Excellence in Teaching

To address the priority of fostering excellence in teaching in the field of journalism and mass communication history, the organization will offer, a National Awards Program for Excellence in Teaching in history of journalism and mass communication (hereinafter referred to as the “Awards Program”).

The Awards Program recognizes faculty who promote effective and innovative pedagogy evidenced by successive years of sustained, meritorious and exceptional teaching.

The Awards Program is offered annually to honor excellence in the teaching of journalism and mass communication history, a key element in developing knowledge in these fields as well as within the broader history discipline. The Awards Program will recognize and honor a select group of college and university teachers who excel at teaching in these areas, make a positive impact on student learning, and influence other teachers by example. It is designed to focus national attention on the importance of journalism and mass communication history teaching in the professional educations of undergraduates who plan to pursue careers in these fields. In addition, it is meant to encourage those communication programs that offer graduate-level courses in journalism and mass communication history to continue doing so, as well as to foster development of new journalism and mass communication courses across the nation. This is an endeavor that is fundamental to the future development of these fields.

Eligibility

Teacher nominees have demonstrated a commitment to the field of journalism and mass communication history and attributed a high priority to the teaching of courses in these areas.

A teacher nominee should hold a full-time appointment as an active faculty member at a college or university that confers a baccalaureate or higher degree in the fields of journalism/mass communication studies, communication studies, and/or the more general field of history as of the nominee submission due date. They should have responsibility for teaching in an area of the history of journalism and mass communication and/or field of history. Nominations of outstanding faculty in part-time positions or at 2-year institutions may also be considered.

Individuals who do not receive an award in a given year are eligible for re-nomination. However, a new nomination package must be submitted. Nomination files are not retained for reconsideration in future years.

Schedule
Nominations must be submitted to the award review committee no later than July 15 (postmark date) for awards to be made at the following AJHA annual convention.

Preparation of Nominations
Nominations may be submitted by a supervisor or peer. Limit submissions to only superior educators who excel in each of the six evaluation criteria, and who exhibit sustained, consistent and long-term commitment to achieving the highest quality of teaching excellence.

Send materials to: Barbara Friedman, AJHA Education Committee, UNC-CH, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, CB 3365, Chapel Hill NC 27599. Questions may be directed to bfriedman@unc.edu.

Prize
Each year’s award recipient will receive a plaque and $500.

Evaluation of Nominees
Award recipients are evaluated by the Education Committee. The Education Committee will make a recommendation to the Board for final approval. The Education Committee will evaluate and select nominees who best meet the following criteria:

Evaluation Criteria	Weight
1. Teaching Quality Assessment - The degree to which the nominee clearly demonstrates both recent and sustained excellence in teaching, as indicated by formal student and peer evaluations. Responses should summarize any institutional evaluation procedure and the nominee's specific evaluation data. Evaluation scores/rankings should be accompanied by college or university averages. Include reference to any awards and honors related to teaching. Responses must demonstrate how this nominee excels when compared to others within the department, college and university. Refrain from including student comments that lack measurable assessments (i.e., Rather than including the comment “This teacher is awesome!”, instead, document why the teacher is “awesome!”).	20%
2. Philosophy of Teaching and Teaching Methodology The degree to which the nominee: (a) achieves high standards of teaching performance, (b) demonstrates outstanding competence in managing the teaching and learning process, and (c) demonstrates substantive expertise in teaching. Documentation should include (but not be limited to) statement(s) demonstrating how course content is kept current, specific reference to innovations in the classroom and variety and creativity in the teaching process to advance student learning. Provide a qualitative description of how and why you developed your particular teaching practices and methodologies in addition to any quantitative data included. [Note: Nominees are required to provide a first-person response to this Evaluation Criterion.]	20%
3. Service to the Teaching Profession The degree to which the nominee provides leadership in promoting outstanding teaching at the college, departmental, university, regional, and national levels. Consideration will be given to committee activity, publications, grants received (especially as related to teaching), presentations, and recognition. Emphasize only the nominee's most significant activities/publications related to teaching, not those related to a professional discipline (see #5, below).	20%
4. Service to Students The degree to which the nominee has an exemplary record of student service through such activities as academic and career advising, mentoring, supervising internships, placement of graduates, sponsorship of student associations, graduate committee service, etc.	15%
5. Professional Growth and Competencies Development The degree to which the nominee's professional competence in his or her disciplinary specialization is evidenced by continuing intellectual accomplishments and pursuits, such as author or editor for textbooks, scientific publications, grants, presentations, etc. Emphasize only the nominee's most significant activities/publications related to a professional discipline (See #3 above for those related to teaching).	15%
6. Endorsement by Administrator, Alumnus, and Colleague The degree to which statements substantiate the nominee's excellence in and dedication to the teaching role. Include statements (preferably on signed letterhead) from: (a) the administrator of the college or department (b) a former student, and (c) a colleague. One of these authors must identify himself/herself as the nominator. Additionally, the student letter must identify the student's current relationship to the nominee and institution. For example, is the student currently a graduate student in the nominee's Department?	10%

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