Beginning this month, Journalism History will begin publishing new book reviews exclusively on the Journalism History website (journalism-history.org).
History Division members discussed at the AEJMC conference in August how to handle a backlog of book reviews waiting to be published in the quarterly journal. The backlog was created because of the prolific scholarship of division members and the exemplary work of outgoing Book Review Editor Melita Garza. The journal has a limited page count, which has restricted how many book reviews could appear quarterly.
Members discussed the situation, and a consensus emerged that moving the book reviews online would enable them to be published in a timelier manner and allow more room for manuscripts each quarter. The journal should be able to include one additional manuscript as a result of this decision.
Several book reviews remain in the Taylor & Francis system and will be published in the printed journal in 2021. Starting this month, all new book reviews will be published online. Book reviews can be accessed from journalism-history.org/books.
“This is a wonderful problem to have – more quality content than fits in the journal,” said Editor-Elect Pam Parry, who assumes the editorship in July. “We think the members wanted the book reviews to be published in a timelier manner than a quarterly publication allows. This is a reflection of how productive we are as a division and the remarkable work of Melita. We will miss her as she steps down after five years of service.”
Dr. Sonya DiPalma, associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, is the incoming book review editor. In 2015, she won the national teaching award presented annually by AEJMC’s Small Programs Interest Group. Additionally, she is writing a book titled Hope Lange: Celebrity Activism and the Homeless European Land Project scheduled to be published by Lexington Books in 2022. Please contact her regarding book reviews at sdipalma@unca.edu.
Journalism History journal 