A University of Wisconsin professor
edited a journalism encyclopedia published Monday, collecting the
works of several other UW professors and alumni.

UW journalism professor Stephen Vaughn
was appointed the editor of the 636-page Encyclopedia of American
Journalism published by Routledge Publishing. The book includes 405
articles ranging from 500 to 5,000 words.

Bruce Evensen of DePaul University and
James Landers of Colorado State University — both UW alumni —
assisted Vaughn in the editing process.

"The encyclopedia gives a good deal
more attention to developments in American journalism since the end
of World War II in 1945 than other reference works," Vaughn wrote
in an e-mail to The Badger Herald. "There is also a good deal on
the role of women and minorities in journalism — these are areas
that have not been covered well in the past."

UW journalism professor Jack Mitchell,
who had five articles in the encyclopedia, said this is not the only
encyclopedia of communication a UW professor has written in the past
few years.

"There have been several
encyclopedias put out last year. One was on radio, one on television
and this one on journalism," Mitchell said. "In each case [the
publishers] pick a leading professor to put it together — in this
case it was Steve Vaughn."

Mitchell said all articles he wrote
dealt with public broadcasting — his area of expertise.

According to UW journalism professor
Greg Downey, the main reason Routledge Publishers contacted UW
professors to put together this encyclopedia was the possibility for
financial gain and need in the market. The books are now being sold
for more than $400, he said.

"[Routledge Publishers] probably
realized that it was about time to come out with a new encyclopedia
of journalism," Downey said.

Downey said UW professors who wrote the
encyclopedia made "nothing close to $400" for their
contributions, but making money was not the objective.

"I think we make somewhere around $50
for the time we spent writing our articles," Downey said.
"Regardless, I think it is good to contribute to something like
this — you are writing something pretty short that will have a big
impact."