Media Groups And You

'Better Know A Media Org', our series looking at the myriad professional organizations that want to take your money in exchange for networking opps, classes, and in some cases health insurance discounts (no small thing!), concludes today.

To go back through the list, should you ever want to, you can use this link.

Have you learned something? Found a group that fits your niche? Let us know. As for me, I'm thinking of joining the AFJ but don't think they'll let me in—yet.

Today's organization: Association of Food Journalists

About the organization:

The Association of Food Journalists, Inc., is a networking system especially created for journalists who devote most of their working time to planning and writing food copy for news media worldwide.

AFJ's primary goal is to encourage communication among food journalists. In addition, AFJ tries to increase members' knowledge of food and to sharpen their writing, design and broadcast skills. The group also strives to foster professional standards among its members and other members of the media.

Number of members: 275

To join, you must:

Active members are those persons employed or contracted in positions as reporters, writers or editors by a legitimate news or media organization that is supported by advertising and/or paid subscriptions and who spend not less than fifty percent (50%) of their time on food news.

Associate members are those persons employed or contracted as reporters, writers or editors by one or more legitimate news or media organizations that are supported by advertising and/or paid subscriptions and are not house organs of any organization or movement, such as trade associations, advocacy groups and government agencies, and are responsible for or spend not less than fifty percent (50%) of their time on food news.

No member can receive remuneration from producers, processors, merchandisers of food or food-related products or similar commercial entities.

You'll get:
Annual conference
Networking with other members
Lifetime supply of foie gras (J/K!!)

And for that, you'll pay:
First Year: $37.50
After Year 1: $75
Two or three qualifying members at the same publication: $140
Four or more: $225

We're almost done with our compilation of professional organizations for mediabistro community members. We've been featuring one a day in alphabetical order, and are now backtracking through the alphabet to catch a few we missed the first time around.

Today's organization: Authors Guild

About the organization:

The Authors Guild is the nation's oldest and largest professional society of published authors...The Authors Guild and its parent organization, the Authors League of America, have achieved much for individual authors through the collective power and voice of their members-- from improvement of contracts and royalty statements, to protection of authors' rights under the First Amendment, to the redress of damaging tax inequities.

Number of members: 8,000

To join, you must:
(Regular membership) Be a published author, ghostwriter, translator, or freelance writer for a general public. Authors with contracts for work not yet published may join as Associate members.

You'll get:
Free book contract reviews
Health insurance discount (in some states)
Website building
More

And for that, you'll pay:
First Year: $90
After Year 1: Charged on a sliding scale depending on your writing income ("but most members continue to pay $90")

We're almost done with our compilation of professional organizations for mediabistro community members. We've been featuring one a day in alphabetical order, and are now backtracking through the alphabet to catch a few we missed the first time around.

Today's organization: Council of Science Editors (CSE)

About the organization:

The Council of Science Editors (CSE) is an international association of professionals interested in all aspects and types of scientific publications, with a strong focus on the editorial processes of scientific journals. The primary purpose of CSE is to improve the quality of communication in the sciences by educating authors, editors, publishers, and others interested in scientific publications. It provides a forum for discussion and innovation and promotes standards and practices for all forms of primary and secondary publishing.

Number of members: 1,200

To join, you must:
Be interested in the "purpose of CSE." Most members are editors, freelancers, indexers, or others involved in scientific publishing.

You'll get:
Discount on classes and seminars
Discount on books
Participation in the creation of standards and editorial policies
More

And for that, you'll pay:
Regular: $172
Student: $45

We're almost done with our compilation of professional organizations for mediabistro community members. We've been featuring one a day in alphabetical order, and are now backtracking through the alphabet to catch a few we missed the first time around.

Today's organization: American Copy Editors Society (ACES)

About the organization:

The American Copy Editors Society is a professional organization working toward the advancement of copy editors in newspapers, magazines, Web sites and other journalistic endeavors. Our aim is to provide solutions to copy desk problems through training, discussion and an awareness of common issues.

To join, you must:
Be a working copy editor.

You'll get:
Discount on annual conference
Job bank
Editing guidelines
More

And for that, you'll pay:
Active: $55/year
Associate: $55/year
Student: $35/year
High School Student: $10/year
We're almost done with our compilation of professional organizations for mediabistro community members. We've been featuring one a day in alphabetical order, and are now backtracking through the alphabet to catch a few we missed the first time around.

Today's organization: Education Writers Association (EWA)

About the organization:

The Education Writers Association (EWA) is the national professional organization of education reporters. EWA was organized in 1947 by a group of newspaper reporters with the intent of improving education reporting to the public...Active members include reporters from print and broadcast media. Associate members include school and college public information officers and writers who work for educational institutions and organizations.

Number of members: 1,000

To join, you must:
Be an education reporter on staff at a publication. Freelance journalists as well as educators and policy-makers may join as associates.

You'll get:
Free regional workshops
Guidebooks for your beat
Sourcelists
In-person and online networking
More

And for that, you'll pay:
Active: $75/year
Associate: $100/year
Student: $30/year

We're almost done with our compilation of professional organizations for mediabistro community members. We've been featuring one a day in alphabetical order, and are now backtracking through the alphabet to catch a few we missed the first time around.

Today's organization: Writers Guild of America - West (WGAw)

About the organization:

The Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) is a labor union composed of the thousands of writers who write the television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, CD-ROMs, and content for new-media technologies that keep audiences constantly entertained and informed....OUR PRIMARY DUTY is to represent our members in negotiations with film and television producers to ensure the rights of screen, television, and new-media writers. Once a contract is in place, we enforce it. Because of the WGAw’s long-term efforts, writers receive pension and health coverage, and their financial and creative rights are protected.

Number of members: 9,000

To join, you must:
To become a full member, you must acquire 24 "units" of work in the three years before you apply. Writers get units for selling projects under the WGAw's jurisdiction.

You'll get:
A pension & health insurance
Residuals for your work
More

And for that, you'll pay:
An initiation fee of $2500 once accepted

We've compiled as many professional organizations as we can find in all the disciplines that mediabistro visitors work in, and will be featuring one a day til we run out. We're going in alphabetical order so nobody feels slighted, but if we skipped your favorite group by mistake, please let us know.

We haven't tried to show bias or favoritism with our series of media groups, but something about this one struck us as a little odd, and we wanted you to know.

The National Writers Association is a 73-year-old "community of writers and friends where Great Work Begins", according to their web site. Founder Sandy Whelchel tells us that the group has 5,000 members. It very well may have, but.

If you've been following our series at all, you'll notice that of the groups that charge for memberships, non-professionals are usually allowed to join (as "associates," "supporters," etc) for a higher fee.

When we wrote the NWA to ask about dues, we received this back:
"Regular Membership $65, Professional Membership $85 (which should be accompanied by three tearsheets of your published work, verification of your employment as a writer, or a copy of the title page from a published book or play), or just $35 for students with a copy of your student ID."

That's odd. It's extremely rare for the pricing to be switched like this. In fact, we'd go as far as to say that there is no other membership organization we've profiled that charges more for professionals.

We wrote Sandy, the executive director, and after the jump you can read what she said and our conclusions:

(Update 10/13: Sandy sent us a bit more information; it's also after the jump.)

continued...

Today's organization: South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA)

About the organization:

SAJA serves as a networking and resource forum for journalists of South Asian origin and journalists interested in South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora. Its mission includes acting as a resource to facilitate and promote thorough, accurate coverage of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, including South Asians in North America. This includes coverage of media freedom and censorship issues affecting South Asian communities.

Number of members: Under 1,000

To join, you must:
Be a journalist or student in North America. Associate memberships are available for North American non-journalists as well as non-North American journalists.

You'll get:
Members-only events (10 North American chapters)
Discounts on SAJA awards
Listing in the freelance directory
More

And for that, you'll pay:
Professional - $20
Student - $10
Associate - $40

We've compiled as many professional organizations as we can find in all the disciplines that mediabistro visitors work in, and will be featuring one a day til we run out. We're going in alphabetical order so nobody feels slighted, but if we skipped your favorite group by mistake, please let us know.

Today's organization: Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

About the organization:

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

Number of members: 10,000

To join, you must:
For a Professional (standard) membership, you must spend more than half your time working as a journalist or journalism educator.

You'll get:
Job bank
Health insurance discounts
Professional development
Networking

And for that, you'll pay:
Professional - $72
Retired - $36
Household (you live with a current member) $36
Post Grad - $26
College Student - $36

We've compiled as many professional organizations as we can find in all the disciplines that mediabistro visitors work in, and will be featuring one a day til we run out. We're going in alphabetical order so nobody feels slighted, but if we skipped your favorite group by mistake, please let us know.