American Society of Journalists and Authors

The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) was founded in 1948 as the Society of Magazine Writers, and is the professional association of independent nonfiction writers in the United States.

History

The organization was established in 1948 as the Society of Magazine Writers.[1] In 1978, membership was expanded to include book authors and the name was changed to ASJA. In March 2009, ASJA changed their policy regarding self-published authors.[2] In June 2015 the membership criteria were revised to include nonfiction writing in more kinds of markets, and non-bylined work as well.[3]

Objectives

ASJA offers members benefits and services focusing on professional development, including confidential market information, meetings with editors, a referral service, seminars and workshops, and discounts. It also offers the opportunity for members to explore professional issues and concerns with their peers via conferences, regional meetings, online forums, and the membership directory.

ASJA represents freelance writers' interests, serving as spokesman for their right to control and profit from uses of their work in new media and otherwise. For example, in 2009, ASJA objected to the Google Book Search Settlement Agreement for authors.[4] ASJA is a member of the Authors Coalition of America[5] which repatriates foreign royalties and distributes them to American writers organizations on the behalf of American writers. All members are automatically enrolled into the Authors Registry.[6]

Services and resources available to the public include publications, events, and mentoring services. Editors and others can search the membership to hire experienced nonfiction writers. Other services include:

  • A mentoring program for beginning journalists.[7]
  • ASJA Weekly, a free weekly news brief that gathers items of interest to independent writers and others in the fields of publishing, communications, and content marketing.[8]
  • The Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) offers financial grants to writers in need.[9]
  • A database of members available to write on specific nonfiction topics.[10]
  • An associated Freelance Writer Search that permits editors and publishers to advertise jobs to the ASJA membership, as well as obtain counseling on writing projects, budgeting, terms, and talent.[11]
  • Guidance for freelance writers to help with sticky professional situations, including late or non-payment of fees.[12]

Awards

ASJA administers an annual awards program, judged by selected panels of members. In 2021, ASJA opened most of the competition to non-members,[13] A few categories remain open only to members. All submissions must be for work done on a freelance basis.

The following awards are open to both members and non-members:

  • The Arlenes: Given once every three or four years for books that inspire positive action.
  • The Donald Robinson Memorial Award for Investigative Journalism.
  • Outstanding Article Awards in the following categories: Blogging, Business, Reporting, Personal Essays, Fitness and Sports, food and Drink, Health, How-to, Lifestyle, Opinion/Op-Eds, Profiles, Reported Essays, Science, Social Change, Technology, Trade, Travel.
  • Outstanding Book Awards in the following categories: Biography/History, Children/Young Adult Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Memoir/Autobiography, Service/Self-help.
  • Outstanding Content Awards (for work done for brands, businesses, non-profits) in the following categories: Blog Posts or Articles on products and services, Blog Posts or Article focused on subjects other than products and services, Long-form Content (not focused on products or services).

The following awards are open only to ASJA members:

  • June Roth Memorial Awards for Outstanding Medical Article and for Medical Book.
  • In addition, periodically (based on nominations from members and leadership) ASJA confers awards to members, including awards for extraordinary service, for career achievement, the Conscience-in-Media Award, and others.

References
  1. "About ASJA". American Society of Journalists and Authors. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-11-12. Founded in 1948, the American Society of Journalists and Authors is the nation's professional organization of independent nonfiction writers. Our membership consists of more than 1,100 outstanding freelance writers of magazine articles, trade books, and many other forms of nonfiction writing, each of whom has met ASJA's exacting standards of professional achievement.
  2. "ASJA self-published members". American Society of Journalists and Authors. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2011-02-22. The new policy, which a short while ago appeared on the public section of our website, reads as follows: "In general, self-published books are not accepted as qualifying material for ASJA membership. An exception may be made on rare occasion for self-published books with substantial sales, reviews in well-known journals, or inclusion in a major book club."
  3. "ASJA | The American Society of Journalists and Authors". www.asja.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  4. "Lawyer and Author Adds His Objections to Settling the Google Book Lawsuit". The New York Times. August 18, 2009. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Retrieved 2010-11-16. Objections to the settlement have been raised by groups including the National Writers Union, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, ...
  5. "Authors Coalition of America, LLC". authorscoalition.org. Archived from the original on 2009-04-27. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  6. "About - The Authors Registry". www.authorsregistry.org. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  7. "ASJA Personal Mentoring Program". www.asja.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  8. "The ASJA Weekly Archive". www.multibriefs.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  9. "American Society of Journalists and Authors". asja.org. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  10. "American Society of Journalists and Authors". asja.org. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  11. "Freelance Writer Search, ASJA". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  12. "American Society of Journalists and Authors". asja.org. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  13. "ASJA AWARDS". ASJA. Archived from the original on 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
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