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October 2003

Five Reasons Why It Pays to be an ASJA Member

By Lisa Collier Cool

What makes ASJA membership so sought after? I asked more than 60 of our newest members -- those who joined between January and June of this year -- what attractions of our group they found most potent. Here’s a look at their top five reasons for joining:

#1. Moving up to better markets. That’s what made new member Dan Ferber apply, after attending two of ASJA’s annual conferences. "I’ve been aiming to crack some top markets," he says, "and hoped that by joining ASJA, I’d be able to learn from people who have already done it. Also, the other journalism organizations I’d joined were geared to journalistic specialties, and I wanted to learn from successful generalists." Andrea Collier had similar motives: "I wanted to get better at the game, and I saw ASJA as a way to take my work to the next level. And I’ve been able to share, too. ASJA is the most proactive of the organizations I belong to."

#2. Making more money. Knowledge is power -- and profit, says Sharlene K. Johnson. "I joined because I think ASJA will have a positive effect on my bottom line. Writers who don’t communicate with each other are negotiating in the dark. It’s in all of our best interests to share information in PayCheck and Phorum about who pays what and which rights are negotiable." Marcia Layton Turner has also profited from Phorum discussions. "[Market reports in] the monthly newsletter have also opened my eyes to pitching new magazines," she says.

#3. Contract smarts. Subscribing to ASJA’s Contracts Watch for several years is another factor that convinced Ferber to apply for membership. "I knew about the great work the ASJA has done on the contract front and wanted to be part of an organization that was fighting effectively for writers’ rights." Nor did his quest for a negotiating edge stop there. "And frankly," he says, "I wanted some of the inside info hidden away in the PayCheck database. I figured that alone would be worth the price of admission."

#4. Insider information. After losing her job at a trade publication in the wake of 9/11, Coeli Carr decided to freelance full-time. "Although I had good [newspaper] clips, I needed to connect with magazine editors to expand into magazine writing," she says. Carr anticipates developing lucrative contacts at monthly programs and through interaction with fellow members. Tinker Ready has the same goal. "It feels like I send a lot of queries into black holes," she says. "The Phorum has been helpful with leads and advice." Adds Sharlene Johnson, "Working at home is isolating, and I love being able to log into Phorum to read about a certain editor’s personality quirks or a new bit of technology that makes taping interviews easier."

#5. Friendship and inspiration. Brenda Lange was accepted as an ASJA member during the week of the 2003 conference. "I came home with my head swimming with information and possibilities," she says, adding that she’s stayed in touch with several writers and editors she met there. Jane Pollak also made new friends at the conference, and predicts, "I will become more involved, meet more authors and editors, and find opportunities through the exposure." Fellow members are the resource Sherry Paprocki values most, as well: "The strongest drawing card for ASJA, in my opinion, is the high caliber of journalists and authors who participate."

I encourage all ASJA members -- whether new or long-time -- to share with your colleagues the benefits you’ve gained from ASJA membership. Why not send a letter and membership brochure (available through the ASJA office) to fellow contributors to the magazines for which you write, or authors in your publisher’s stable?

Don’t forget: For each new member you recruit, you’ll get a 10% discount on your dues for the following year, along with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped our group get bigger and stronger. And that makes membership increasingly valuable!