WKU News

PRESS RELEASE
May 20, 2019
For Immediate Release

The American Journalism Historians Association has announced Rich Shumate of Western Kentucky University as the winner of the 2019 Margaret A. Blanchard Dissertation Prize.

Shumate, who completed his dissertation at the University of Florida under the direction of Huan Chen, was recognized for his work on "Elite Voices and Irritated Conservatives: Pathways Leading to the Perception of Liberal Media Bias Arising from Elite News Media Coverage of the Emergence of Movement Conservatism, 1960-1964."

"I'm honored that my dissertation was selected for the Blanchard prize," Shumate said. "Having been involved with AJHA through my doctoral studies and now as a professor, I know this is a community that values strong scholarship, so having my work recognized for this award is quite gratifying."

AJHA has granted the Blanchard Prize to the best doctoral dissertation dealing with mass communication history annually since 1997.

Three other scholars received honorable mention from the Blanchard Dissertation Prize Committee.

Jeremy Chatelain was one of the honorees, having completed "The Imprint of the Press: A Cultural History of the Influence of Nineteenth-Century American Print on Mormonism in Kirtland, Ohio, 1831-1837" under the direction of Kimberley Mangun at the University of Utah.

Elisabeth Fondren of Louisiana State University also received honorable mention for her dissertation, "'Breathless Zeal and Careless Confidence': German Propaganda in World War I,” which she completed under the direction of John Maxwell Hamilton.

Finally, Jason Lee Guthrie of the University of Georgia received honorable mention for his work on "Authors and Inventors: The Ritual Economy of Early American Copyright Law” under the direction of Janice Hume.
All four award winners will be recognized at AJHA’s 38th annual convention Oct. 3-5 in Dallas.

Founded in 1981, the American Journalism Historians Association seeks to advance education and research in mass communication history. Members work to raise historical standards and ensure that all scholars and students recognize the vast importance of media history and apply this knowledge to the advancement of society. For more information on AJHA, visit http://www.ajhaonline.org.