Try JAWS free for 90 days!

In these extraordinary times, journalism is more important than ever – and so is the representation of women, trans and non-binary people in all facets of the profession.

We must stand together to fulfill the Journalism and Women Symposium’s (JAWS’) mission of supporting underrepresented journalists and working toward a more accurate portrayal of the whole society. Women, underrepresented in U.S. newsrooms even before COVID-19, are already suffering higher unemployment than men during this crisis – and the numbers are even worse for women of color.

We need each other more than ever to buck this trend. To encourage you to join, we are excited to offer a limited-time offer. New members who join by December 31, 2020, receive a 90-day gift membership. Kick start your career with the JAWS network, webinars and more, free for three months!

JAWS is here to help you grow your network and learn the new skills you need to succeed professionally with virtual networking, webinars, online training discounts and regional programming. We support each other personally and professionally, sharing job opportunities, contacts, knowledge and lived experiences to help each other succeed.

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Five reasons to join! You get:

1. A growing network of JAWS women who can offer motivation, support and ideas, not to mention the all-important comic relief and camaraderie; we have regional groups and captains hosting events in different hubs across the country.
2. Access to a members-only platform with a directory, forums and messaging capabilities.
3. Access to the JAWS private Facebook group, allowing you to communicate with JAWS members around the country and share ideas, experiences, and news affecting women that you may not see reported elsewhere.
4. Free members-only webinars and discount registration to our annual Conference and Mentoring Project (CAMP).
5. Other valuable member-only benefits and discounts offered by strategic partners.

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Membership Rates

After your 90-day gift membership is up, you'll have the opportunity to join with a 1- or 2- year paid membership. Add your name to the roster of incredible women in the JAWS directory by becoming a member of the Journalism and Women Symposium, one of the few national organizations that devotes itself to women in journalism.

You have several options for a JAWS membership. 

• NEW Voting Member: $50 for first year, ($75 per year to renew)
  • Emerging Professional: $100 ($50 for each of first two years after leaving school)
    • Recent graduates (within the last 12 months) who are working in journalism are eligible for a reduced membership rate of $50 a year for the first two years after they leave school. Emerging professionals have voting privileges.
  • Lifetime Member: $1,200

• NEW Associate Member: $75 for 1 year, $140 for 2 years
  • Associate members have access to resources on the website and can participate in regional and national gatherings and online activities such as forums, webinars and chats. Associate members are NOT eligible to vote and cannot hold office.
  • Students*: $35
    • Those currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program for journalism may join at a discounted rate, as non-voting members.

*For purposes of this membership category, a student is defined as someone enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program for journalism.

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Who Can Join JAWS

All memberships are subject to board approval. There are two categories of membership: voting and associate. The membership criteria are as follows:

Voting membership is open to:

• Journalists who are employed in digital news; broadcast, cable or online TV; radio or podcasts; newspapers; news services or syndicates; magazines; and social platforms that disseminate news and information
• Journalists whose primary occupation is freelancing in the fields listed above
• Journalism educators and administrators
• People whose primary occupation is research or publishing in the field of journalism
• People employed by organizations dedicated to serving journalists

Associate members are entitled to all the privileges of membership except voting and pay the same dues and fees. The following people may join:

• Students* of journalism and those active in campus media at the college level or above
• Former journalists with at least three years of experience and who embrace or further the mission of Journalism and Women Symposium
• Freelance journalists who meet all of the following criteria:
  • Currently spend less than 50 percent of their time working for independent news organizations 
  • Do not pitch stories on behalf of clients to other journalists
  • Have no media relations role
  • Embrace or further the mission of Journalism and Women Symposium

*For purposes of this membership category, a student is defined as someone currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

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How to Join or Renew:

To join online, select the appropriate membership level from the buttons on the top right-hand side of this page (or at the bottom of this page on your mobile device).

To join or give a gift by check, please make your check payable to Journalism & Women Symposium and mail to:

Journalism and Women Symposium
2885 Sanford Ave. SW, #29226,
Grandville, MI 49418-1342