Latino/Latin American Communication Research Award Recognizes Papers

Dr. Melita M. Garza teaches courses on media history, business journalism, and diversity in the media as an assistant professor at the Texas Christian University Bob Schieffer College of Communication. A journalism historian who focuses on how English- and Spanish-language media socially construct our world, Dr. Melita Garza has received numerous awards for her work in Mexican-American and Latino studies. In 2015, the International Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) presented her with the Latino/Latin American Communication Research Award. 

The award goes to the top three research papers submitted to the International Communications or Minorities in Communications divisions and recognizes Hispanic, Latino, and Latin American scholars for their research efforts in journalism, mass media, and international communication as it relates to their communities. Papers may feature any research methodologies and address a variety of topics, ranging from Inter-American and Iberian-American communications to critical media and cultural studies. Eligibility is limited to members of the Hispanic, Latino, and Latin American communities, although papers authored by multiple scholars are permitted if the first scholar listed belongs to one of thoe groups. 

Sponsorship for LARA comes from the University of Arizona School of Journalism (U of A), the FIU Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), and the Florida International University College of Communication, Architecture and the Arts (CARTA). The U of A sponsors one award, while CARTA and the FIU LACC sponsor the other two.