Amber Roessner

Amber Roessner is a Professor at the University of Tennessee’s School of Journalism & Electronic Media. Her research and teaching focus on media history, political reporting, and the intersection of sports journalism with cultural phenomena such as race, gender, and class. She has received accolades including the American Journalism Historians Association’s 2017 Award for Excellence in Teaching and the AEJMC History Division’s Covert Award (2021). Roessner has authored and co-edited notable works like Inventing Baseball Heroes and Political Pioneer of the Press.

• PhD in Journalism & Mass Communication (2010), University of Georgia
• MA in Journalism & Mass Communication (2006), University of Georgia
• BS in Education (Sports Studies, 2003), University of Georgia

Roessner’s research explores the historical construction of media narratives, particularly in sports and political journalism. Her work examines how media shapes collective memory, public identity, and social justice movements, with a focus on figures like Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Jimmy Carter. She has contributed extensively to journals such as Journalism History and Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in media’s role in political campaigns, athlete activism, and the commodification of cultural icons. Roessner’s articles analyze topics ranging from the 1976 presidential campaign to mental health in the Olympics and the historical promotion of baseball heroes.

• American Journalism Historians Association’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017)
• AEJMC History Division’s Covert Award for Best Mass Communication History Article (2021)
• American Journalism’s Inaugural Rising Scholar (2014)

Roessner has held leadership roles including Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the School of Journalism & Electronic Media and President-elect of the University of Tennessee’s Faculty Senate. She previously worked as a sports writer and editor in the journalism industry, earning recognition for her coverage of youth sports and regional media.