Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Scott.Illinois Newspaper Directory and HistoryHarry Franklin Harrington^ (later Director of the Medill School of Journalism) hadbeen added to the staff and placed in charge of the instruction.The Association invited Scott, who was then at the head of the department ofEnglish, to talk on "Journalism Instruction at Illinois."Development of the courses was delayed by the World War and it was not until1922 that students were permitted to make journalism their major study. At that timeeleven courses were offered and a major was authorized which required a student to taketen hours' work in journalism and ten in literature as part of his requirement for a degree.By 1922 the Association had begun to look on the university as a sort of unofficialbranch office and had begun the practice, carried out annually during the years thatfollowed, of passing resolutions commending the work in journalism that the universitywas doing.In 1923 the Association voted to meet at the university and asked for a journalisticshort course. Such a short course was held in the spring of 1924 and led to the establishmentof the Journalism Conference which is now held in conjunction with theannual meeting of the Association.In the same year the Association, under the presidency of John Harrison, votedto meet regularly at the university. In the fall of 1924 the annual meeting began totake on the characteristics of the present Journalism Conference, speakers from otherstates were scheduled and greater emphasis was placed on the professional and educationalaspects of journalism.This was the situation when William J. Smith, editor of the Waukegan Sun, becamepresident of the Association. At the 192 6 convention banquet he appointed a committeeto confer with the president of the university and urge him to bring about the establishmentof a School or College of Journalism which should have the same status as theschools of law and medicine.The committee consisting of John Harrison, editor of the Danville CommercialNews; D. W. Grandon, editor of the Sterling Gazette, J. W. McClure, editor of theCarlinville Democrat; H. U. Bailey, editor of the Bureau County Republican, and \\ .J.Smith, president of the Association, conferred with President David Kinley of theuniversity on the morning of Saturday.They met the president and several members of the faculty and placed their requestbefore them. In addition to the president of the university and the members of thepress committee there were present at that meeting K. C. Babcock, dean of the Collegeof Liberal Arts and Sciences; Ernest Bernbaum, head of the department of English;Lawrence W. Murphy, Director of the Courses in Journalism; and Josef F. Wright.Director of Publicity and member of the journalism staff.At the conclusion of the conference the president of the university consented tomake provision for the establishment and continuation of the School of Journalism oncondition that the Press Association secure an appropriation to cover the needs of thefirst two years.The committee withdrew and undertook preparations for the introduction of aSchool of Journalism bill at the forthcoming meeting of the legislature. State RepresentativeWilliam F. Weiss of Waukegan introduced the bill on March 15, 1927, at therequest of Mr. Smith. The School of Journalism committee and the legislative committeeof the Association then sponsored the bill during the various stages of its journeyJFaculty members offering instruction in lournalism up to the time of the establishment of the School (1902-27) included:Hirrs G P»ul. Thacher Howbnd Guild. Frank V* . Arthur Llewelyn Eno. Harry F. Harrington. Harry Torsey Baker.1 A Russell. Vt A Hale. Elmo Scott W.-tson. Albert |. Harno. Salter Wilgus. Dix Harwood. |osel 1 Wright, H. M.Hodgson. C. B. Dasis. Ben Kartman. L. V. Murphy, C. L. Allen. Helen Rand. Laurence F. Tr.gcs. 1 S. Siebtrt.275