Membership
AAJA is now accepting memberships for 2012. Memberships submitted today are good through December 31, 2012. Click here to renew, reactive or become a member.
Photo by Dipti Vaidya
Stay Connected
AAJA is a membership organization with more than 1,400 members in 21 chapters across the U.S. and Asia. As a member of AAJA, you get to participate in an elaborate network of Asian American and Pacific Islander journalists, media partners and friends who continue to have a profound impact in the field of journalism both locally and nationally.
You stay connected with members throughout the U.S. and those who work abroad. You remain informed of the latest issues affecting diversity in the newsroom and in the media industry through AAJA Online listserv; and the latest opportunities for professional development and network through AAJA national conventions, AAJA Job Resources; the Executive Leadership Program; AAJA internships, mentorship and scholarships.
Most importantly, you become part of a larger community of journalists of color, UNITY: Journalists of Color, who share our values and commitment to diversity in the newsroom. If these values are in keeping with your vision, then AAJA membership is for you.
Membership Levels
AAJA offers a variety of memberships to choose from:
Full Membership
Available to those who receive a majority of their income from or spend the majority
of their work time involved in journalistic work -- including freelance work -- for newspapers, magazines,
wire services, radio stations or networks, television stations or networks, cable outlets, news-oriented
public affairs departments, online-related divisions of a news-oriented organization, online-only news
organizations, other bona-fide news organizations or educational institutions.
Accepted journalistic work includes reporting, writing, editing, photography, anchoring, producing,
directing, research, design, teaching journalism and other functions that have direct impact on the
gathering or presentation of the news. The membership status for those who work for non-news media
online companies may be reviewed by the membership committee.
Full membership is also available to those who have left journalism, but who were AAJA members and
journalists (as defined above) for 5 or more consecutive years.
Full membership is also available to journalists who are currently between jobs, including those who are
freelancing. (Those who were already full members would continue in that status.) These temporarily
unemployed journalists will be eligible for reduced dues for the first two years they are unemployed.
Full membership is also available to executives involved in the hiring of journalists and to artists and
technicians involved in the news gathering process. Full members are eligible to vote and hold office.
Full member dues - $65
Associate Membership
Available to former journalists, public or community affairs representatives of bona-fide news companies, and non-journalists who have particular expertise or services they can offer AAJA. Non-journalist members must be approved by the chapter or recommended by at least one board member. Associate members are NOT eligible to vote and CANNOT hold office except for the position of treasurer.
Associate member dues - $65
Student Membership
(Copy of most current student ID required)
Available to enrolled high school, undergraduate, or graduate students who intend to pursue a career in journalism. Recent graduates who have yet to obtain their first job may also become student members. Once they get their first job, they must become full or associate members. Student members are NOT eligible to vote and CANNOT hold office. They may participate on committees and attend meetings.
Student member dues - $25
Retired Membership
Available to persons aged 62 and over who have previously worked full time or part time as a journalist. Retired members are NOT eligible to vote and CANNOT hold office except for the position of treasurer.
Retired member dues - $25
GOLD or PLATINUM membership is available to full or associate members for a higher rate and additional benefits.
Gold Membership
GOLD FULL – $100
GOLD ASSOCIATE - $100
* Tax deductible less $65 toward basic member dues.
Platinum Membership
PLATINUM FULL – $750
PLATINUM ASSOCIATE - $750
* Tax deductible less $65 toward basic member dues and value of convention registration.
Please note that all AAJA Memberships are per calendar year (January 1 to December 31 of each year).
Chapters
AAJA's 21 chapters offer activities to members who work or live in their areas. Activities include professional skills development workshops, student scholarship and internship programs and media access workshops for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Chapters also hold networking social events, such as tailgate parties at baseball games, Lunar New Year dinners, ski trips and screenings of AAPI plays and films. Contact your local chapter for more info on AAJA events in your area
For further questions on membership and/or chapters, please contact the Membership and Chapter Development Manager Antonio M. Salas at (415) 346-2051 ext. 105 or by e-mail at AntonioS@aaja.org.
Email
Print