David E. Sumner
Professor Emeritus
David E. Sumner is professor emeritus of journalism. He was head of the magazine media track and adviser to Ball Bearings magazine from 1990 to 2015. During his 25 years at Ball State, he taught courses in feature and magazine writing, magazine publishing, opinion writing, religion reporting, and literary journalism. He is internationally recognized for his scholarship and has spoken or taught at conferences in Canada, Honduras and Istanbul, Turkey. He has presented papers or talks at three dozen journalism conferences in the U.S. He received the "Magazine Educator of the Year" award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2007 and Distinguished Faculty Alumnus recognition from the University of Tennessee College of Communication in 2008.
His website is www.Sumner-books.com. He is currently working with two co-authors on his 12th book, Feature and Magazine Writing: Action, Angle and Anecdotes, 4th edition, to be published by Wiley & Sons. His 11th book, The Rise, Fall and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry, won a 2025 Florida Book Award from Florida State University in the general nonfiction category.
His other books include: The Magazine Century: American Magazines in 20th Century (2nd ed. 2023), Amos Alonzo Stagg: College Football's Greatest Pioneer (2021); Fumbled Call: The Bear Bryant-Wally Butts Football Scandal that Split the Supreme Court (2018); Feature and Magazine Writing: Action, Angle and Anecdotes, (1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions); Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry (2006); Graduate Programs in Journalism and Mass Communication (1996) and The Episcopal Church’s History 1945-1985 (1987). He has written articles for the Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook, Georgia Historical Quarterly, Encyclopedia of Tennessee History and Culture, Florida Historical Quarterly, and Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications. He has also been a contributor to the In Trust Association of Theological Schools magazine.
Sumner earned the PhD from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a master's degree from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee; a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina, and a B.A. from Stetson University in Florida. He lives with his wife, Elise, a retired Spanish teacher, in Anderson, Indiana.