Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and Historyin the statement made at the Mid- Winter meeting in Chicago a year ago and at theannual meeting in Urbana in September."In brief, the report asks you to authorize your committee on education topass upon the men who offer themselves as candidates for the professional certificateof the Illinois Press association and to award them the certificate if theymake a satisfactory record in reporting and copyreading, and if they show satisfactoryfamiliarity with the history and ethics of journalism. It gives the collegegraduate and the self-made newspaper man an equal chance, providing the two haveequal ability and have had good experience. It requires the college graduate to getpractical experience, and the self-made newspaper man to do some good reading."Now this is a rather simple matter from the standpoint of the action of theassociation as a whole. If you approve the recommendation you direct your committeeand officers to prepare a certificate and to award it to such persons as qualifyfor it under reasonable rules."So far as can be predicted there is much to be gained and nothing to be lostby a trial of the plan. It is not a restrictive measure but an opportunity. It givesthe press a chance to point the way for beginners in journalism. It gives theemployer an opportunity to say to the cub, 'You'd better prepare to take the examinationfor a professional certificate next February,' or June, or whatever the casemay be."The suggestion here made in regard to what the first examinations wouldcontain should not be considered as ideal. It is merely a basis on which a beginningcan be made. As time goes on questions on newspaper production and advertisingcan be added for persons working on small newspapers and other questions invarious fields for specialists on large papers."Here, then, is the recommendation of the Committee on Education, in suchform that you can take action on it:That the Illinois Press Association, through the Committee on Education, issueto competent newspaper men of Illinois, a professional certificate under conditionsto be determined by the Illinois Press Association; and that such certificatesbe granted only to those who furnish satisfactory evidence of good moralcharacter and professional ability and achievement; and that the Illinois PressAssociation authorizes such expenditures as may be necessary in the work of thecommittee not to exceed 2 5 cents on every membership in the Association."The report was discussed by members who were favorably impressed with it andby members who questioned its value. At the conclusion of the discussions the associationvoted unanimously to put the proposed plan into operation and appropriated the2 5 cents per membership requested to finance it.The morning papers of the following day, March 27, printed the following AssociatedPress story:Illinois Editors Are to Establish Certificate PlanSpringfield, March 26.—The "Illinois plan" for the professional recognitionof newspaper men was unanimously adopted today bv the Illinois Press Associationimmediately prior to the closing of its three-day midwinter convention. The planis regarded by members of the association as a forward step in the establishmentof a professional status for newspaper men. Certificates will be granted to newspapermen who attain the standards set by the association.242