Societies and Conferences
There’s no substitute for meeting other science journalists and editors in person, and journalism societies and conferences are the perfect venues to make that happen. Here, we’ve compiled a list of global, national, and regional societies, as well as beat-specific organizations and identity-based affinity groups. Many of the societies listed below host conferences and offer mentorship opportunities.
- World Federation of Science Journalists. WFSJ represents 10,000 science and technology journalists worldwide. Every other year, the organization hosts the world’s largest science journalism conference with roughly 1,200 attendees.
- Association of Health Care Journalists. AHCJ brings together health care journalists from around the country and provides resources, training, networking, and career development opportunities for reporters covering the health care beat.
- Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. This organization awards numerous fellowships and hosts an annual conference called New Horizons in Science, during which leading researchers present on major advances in their fields.
- National Association of Science Writers. With over 2,000 members, NASW brings together people from a range of professional backgrounds who communicate science to broad audiences as part of their work. The organization hosts an annual conference, awards fellowships and travel grants, and coordinates a mentoring program that pairs aspiring and early-career science writers with more established journalists.
- Online News Association. ONA strives to facilitate breakthroughs in digital journalism through supporting innovative business models for online media, improving workplace culture, and disseminating best practices for audience engagement, among other aims. The association hosts an annual conference as well as other programs and resources for the community.
- Society of Environmental Journalists. The only professional organization specifically for environmental journalists in North America, SEJ has over 1,500 members. It hosts an annual conference and offers grants, mentorship, and other resources for its members.
- Society of Professional Journalists. Among the aims of SPJ are to advocate for journalism and journalists, support best practices in the craft and in newsroom, defend the First Amendment, and promote ethical journalism. There are SPJ chapters around the country, and the organization hosts an annual conference.
- Regional Science Writing Organizations. There are a number of smaller, regional science writing organizations. This page from the National Association of Science Writers lists many of them.
- BU Power of Narrative Conference. This annual event from Boston University gives journalists of all types and experience levels a chance to learn from experts in the craft of narrative storytelling.
Identity-Based Affinity Groups
- National Association of Black Journalists. NABJ is a national network of Black journalists with over 4,000 members. The organization advocates for Black journalists in the workplace, awards scholarships, internships, and fellowships, and hosts an annual convention and career fair.
- National Association of Hispanic Journalists. With over 3,300 members and local chapters around the country, NAHJ strives to increase the number of Hispanic journalists and help them excel in their careers, offering events, scholarships, mentorship, and other professional development opportunities.
- Native American Journalists Association. NAJA aims to build a cohesive community of Native journalists while recognizing different Native communities’ cultures and traditions. NAJA hosts an annual conference, awards fellowships and scholarships, and runs additional programming.
- NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. NLGJA’s stated mission is to promote responsible coverage of LGBTQ issues and advocate for more inclusive workplace cultures. The organization awards scholarships and hosts an annual convention as well as other events, some of which are put on by local chapters.
- Asian American Journalists Association. With over 1,500 members in the United States and Asia, AAJA works to advance fair coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and increase representation of AAPIs in newsrooms. The organization has a number of scholarships and professional development events and initiatives.
- South Asian Journalists Association. SAJA supports South Asian journalists through education and professional development opportunities and works to improve coverage of South Asian communities and issues. The community includes more than 1,000 journalists throughout North America.
Other Resources
- “Making the Most of a Writers’ Association Membership.” In this resource from The Open Notebook, you’ll find suggestions to get the most out of your membership in journalism societies and associations.
