The Electronic Front Porch: An Oral History of the Arrival of Modern Media in Rural Appalachia and the Melungeon Community By Dr. Jacob J. Podber

Dr. Jacob Podber interviewed people from all over the U. S. who share a common Appalachian heritage. In his book he reveals how the Internet has brought the scattered Appalachian remnant together to form a family cyber community. The Internet has revolutionized the way people research their ancestors. The Internet is bringing families together and a better understanding of how their ancestors took part in the making of America.

"The book is published by Mercer University Press (September 30, 2007), they have published many books about Appalachian heritage. People worldwide are learning more about the overlooked history of many people who arrived in the Americas during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. For the first time in history many records an documents are being digitized and published on the Internet, libraries, historical societies and by people who have a love of preserving history."





Biography Of the author:

"Dr. Jacob J. Podber is Assistant Professor in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts at Southern Illinois University. His research interests are in electronic media usage in rural Appalachia and other “outsider” communities. His article “Early Radio in Rural Appalachia: An Oral History” appears in the Journal of Radio Studies. He also has a chapter forthcoming in Global Media Studies: Ethnographic Perspective. Routledge Press. Dr. Podber has won several awards, including the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award from the Broadcast Education Association, the Carl A. Ross Paper of the Year Award from the Appalachian Studies Association, the Top Paper Award from the Broadcast Education Association, and the Top Paper Award on an American Theme from the Ohio University-American Studies Steering Committee. In addition, Dr. Podber was Graduate Production Supervisor for the videotape accompaniment to the book Entertainment-Education: A Communication Strategy for Social Change by Everett Rogers & Arvind Singhal."