A Heritage of Distinguished Journalism: A Look at the ESA Paper Trail

FOR EARLY PROFESSIONAL societies struggling to become established, an official journal presented a difficult hurdle. It was a costly endeavor, necessitating systematic planning and continuity. It required consensus on objectives and standards and involved the vesting of authority to enforce those standards. With these interacting elements, it is not surprising that the path of journalistic development has been a controversial one. This essay examines the ESA paper trail, the heritage from which its current publications were derived, and it looks to the journalistic challenge of the future.