A world of communication: 1981-1991

Communication World, May-June, 2005

A WORLD OF COMMUNICATION: 1981-1991

1981   AIDS is identified.              IABC Research Foundation (RF)
       IBM introduces the personal      is formed to build a
       computer. AT&T is dissolved      research-based body of
       for violating U.S. antitrust     knowledge; Lynda J. Stewart,
       laws.                            ABC, is chairman. Gold Quill
                                        entries reach a record of
                                        4,000. Chairman: Roy G. Foltz,
                                        ABC *

1982   A quick PR response to the       IABC membership reaches
       series of fatal Tylenol          10,000, having doubled in four
       poisonings helps Johnson &       years, in 110 chapters.
       Johnson avoid a public           Communication World is
       relations disaster.              launched.
                                        Chairman: Thomas A. Ruddell,
                                        ABC *
                                        RF Chairman: Richard Charlton,
                                        ABC *

1983                                    Chairman: Albert B. Wann,
                                        ABC *

1984   Apple releases the Macintosh     IABC establishes the
       computer. The Union Carbide      Asia/Pacific, Europe/Africa
       plant explosion in Bhopal,       and Americas regions in order
       India, kills thousands and       to grow internationally. IABC
       underscores the importance       switches its accounting system
       of crisis planning.              from cash to an accrual basis,
                                        resulting in the creation of a
                                        US$800,000 deficit.
                                        Chairman: Myra L. Kruger, ABC;
                                        RF Chairman: Louis Williams,
                                        ABC *; President: Norman G.
                                        Leaper, ABC *

1985                                    An IABC Profile study reveals
                                        a major shift among
                                        membership since 1970 from
                                        editors to managers/directors.
                                        Chairman: Christopher H.
                                        Bunting, ABC *

1986                                    Research Foundation publishes
                                        "The Velvet Ghetto," a study
                                        on the impact of women in the
                                        communication profession, and
                                        launches the Excellence study
                                        to identify the characteristics
                                        of excellent communication as
                                        related to organizational
                                        success.
                                        Chairman: Robert M. Berzok,
                                        ABC *

1987   "Black Monday" stock market      IABC's first international
       crash surpasses the 1929 crash   conference outside North
       as the biggest in U.S.           America draws members from 26
       history.                         countries to London.
                                        Chairman: Jean G. Cormier *
                                        RF Chairman: Wilma Mathews,
                                        ABC *

1988                                    CW wins the first of many
                                        Maggie Awards from the Western
                                        Publications Association.
                                        Chairman: Sharon A. Paul, ABC *

1989   The Berlin Wall falls,           The IABC deficit is eliminated.
       signaling the end of communism   Chairman: Brad Whitworth, ABC *
       in Eastern Europe. The Exxon
       Valdez oil spill becomes a
       case study in ineffective
       crisis management.

1990   Iraq invades Kuwait,             Chairman: Ron E. Martin, ABC *
       precipitating the Persian Gulf   RF Chairman: Frederic I.
       War in 1991.                     Halperin, ABC *

1991   Apartheid is abolished in        ABC/Southern Africa is
       South Africa. The Soviet Union   chartered as part of the
       officially dissolves. The U.S.   Europe/Africa region.
       experiences a recession.         Chairman: Lester R. Potter,
                                        ABC *

* IABC Fellow