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June 2006

From the President's Desk: Young and Old

If you have attended our annual conference or any other ASJA event during the past few years, you may have noticed that most of our members are Baby Boomers. While we do have members in their twenties, thirties, seventies and eighties, the bulk of ASJA members occupy the trough of middle age. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the majority of members fit into this age group; many younger writers, despite excellent talents, have not yet gathered the freelance writing credits that ASJA requires for membership, and older writers often retire or move away from freelancing.

Nevertheless, I think we would benefit from having a greater variety of ages represented in our membership. We could all gain from the wisdom and experience of our elders, and more younger members would revitalize us with their knowledge of publications, technologies and marketing tactics that otherwise might not reach us.

The challenge is to find ways to attract these members and keep them within our fold. To draw in members, regardless of their age, ASJA has to offer useful benefits and services. What of value can we hold out to younger and older members? I'd like to spark a discussion.

Younger Members

It has been a long time since I was a young writer, but I sold my first freelance piece at 17 and began freelancing seriously when I was 25. I still remember that what I needed most back then was contacts in publishing, feedback on my published work, advice on writing on a limited budget and a social network of writers.

So here are a few ideas for ASJA programs and services that might appeal to younger writers now in similar circumstances:

* New and stronger regional ASJA chapters. Several ASJA regional chapters are active and thriving, but others remain dormant or don't exist at all. These groups can help meet the informational and social needs of many younger writers. I'm not suggesting that ASJA chapters should organize a rave (although they can), but I'd like to encourage new chapters to form-it takes only 10 ASJA members in an area to create a chapter-and to assist all chapters in planning events that might appeal to younger writers who are qualified for ASJA membership, or soon will be. These events could include manuscript or article critiques; panels featuring younger writers, agents and editors; purely social events; workshops on low-budget technologies; local versions of the Personal Pitch sessions that have been highly successful at our annual conference; and programs of practical interest to writers with young families.

* A special online forum presence for young members. Should we add a forum section for members in their twenties and thirties? They certainly have plenty to discuss with one another. Would they participate? Would members in their forties and older object?

* More ASJA programs and services that allow older members to share their knowledge with younger members. I don't think I'm in favor of a formal mentoring program, but younger members in particular would benefit from an increased emphasis on programs that give the backstory of the creation, sale and marketing of articles, books and other writing projects.

Older Writers

I recently asked members of our Past Presidents Committee for ideas for ASJA services that would appeal to writers in their sixties and beyond. I am grateful for their suggestions:

* An increased offering of insurance benefits. ASJA may not be able to provide much more in health insurance choices, but we can investigate the possibility of offering auto, life and other insurance products from a group provider.

* Group buying arrangements with technology vendors, office supplies sellers and other retailers. We currently have a few of these in place, but we could expand our offerings.

* Knowledge-sharing programs, similar to those I mentioned for younger members. When older members find that their knowledge and experience is valued, they'll feel more involved in ASJA. A program could also tap older members' experience by giving them opportunities to discuss their work and careers with journalism students and other members of the public, simultaneously raising their profile and ASJA's.

So many ideas, so little time. Let me know which appeal to you, or better still, which inspire you to volunteer to help.

Jack El-Hai of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is president of ASJA. E-mail the president through www.asja.org/contact.php.