ASJA’s Information Gems – the Facebook Page, Resource Finder, and Member Directory

Kim Kobersmith recently got an email from a client notifying her that they are migrating to a new website and old articles will be taken offline. Worried about losing her work, Kobersmith searched the ASJA Facebook page and found a link to an ASJA Confidential article about options for saving online clips written by fellow member Joanna Nesbit.

It’s an example of one of ASJA’s biggest benefits: getting timely information on running a freelance business. In addition to the ASJA Facebook page, which took the place of the old member forums when the website was updated several years ago, ASJA has two other not-so hidden gems for finding information: Resource Finder, and the Member Directory.

Let’s take a closer look at what all three offer, and how to use them:

How to Use the ASJA Facebook Page

The first thing to know about the ASJA Facebook page is that what happens on the page stays on the page. Translation: the Facebook page is private and only open to members. That level of privacy lets people to talk openly about issues they might not feel comfortable bringing up in a more public forum. More than 580 ASJA members have joined the page.

Depending on the day, people might share problems with marketing, clients, or getting paid; post inspirational or funny memes (looking at you Michele “Wojo” Wojciechowski); or just ask which word works better in a particular sentence. “We do have a true sense of community and welcome all to contribute,” Facebook page moderator Karon Warren said.

Warren and fellow FB page mod K.J. Bannan monitor activity to make sure the conversations stay on point and positive even when people discuss controversial topics, and advise people to read and follow the group rules. The mods also post conversation starters a few times a week. Every Friday, they start a brag thread for people to share the professional or personal successes they had that week.

Once a quarter, they run a promotions thread where members can share a money-making service they provide, such as a course or coaching. “You have to watch out for it but it’s usually at the beginning of each quarter,” Bannan said.

A lesser well-known feature of the FB page is the files library. In it, you’ll find conference handouts, research on media perils insurance, templates, and more.

Pro tip: use the page’s search function. “It seems silly, but the search feature can unearth a wealth of treasures. If you’re looking for a publications rates, for example, a quick search might turn up what you’re looking for,” Bannan said.

Being generous may also reap long-term benefits. “Many members post gigs that they can’t take on,” she said. “Other members remember those kindnesses and reciprocate either on the page or via private message.”

How to Use the ASJA Resource Finder

Kobersmith could have used the ASJA Resource Finder to search for Joanna Nesbit’s article about saving online clips as PDFs, or dig up all kinds of other information.

Resource Finder is a database of material that ASJA has published, recorded, or created in one form or another over the years. Resources are searchable by format and topic.

The Resource Finder is automatically updated every time a new ASJA Confidential article is published. The database also serves as a repository of recordings of webinars, conference sessions, and past Virtual Pitch Slams with prospective writing clients. Among the tools and templates in the Resource Finder are templates for contracts and letters to late payers.

As of summer 2025, the Resource Finder has more than 730 individual resources on such topics as books, content marketing writing, journalism, ghostwriting, social media, DEAI, podcasting, interviewing, project management, pitching, marketing, copyright, running a freelance business, and a whole lot more.

How to Use the ASJA Member Directory

The main purpose of the Member Directory is providing an online portfolio for members to share a description of their freelance business, contact information, and samples of their work. Adding details to your profile boosts the likelihood that your name will pop up when an editor or content manager searches the database for someone with a specific background or specialty for an assignment. If you need help filling out your profile, what this 50-minute video: Complete Your ASJA Member Profile, hosted by former board member Lottie Joiner and long-time member Marijke Vroomen Durning.

The member directory has other uses. I use it all the time to doublecheck the spelling of members’ names. You can also use it to:

• See who’s an ASJA member. To view every single ASJA member in alphabetical order (by last name), scroll past the search functions at the top of the page.
• Find a writer’s contact information. If you want to contact another member but don’t have their email address, look them up in the directory. If they’ve filled out their member profile, scroll to the bottom of their page and you’ll see the “Contact NAME” button – click on “Send a Message” below it and it will auto-fill their address in your email app.
•  Find writers who live or work in your area. Use the directory’s search function to look up members by city or state or Canadian province or territory.
• Find writers who cover the same topics. The directory lets members search for other members by subject, including general topics and specialties. It’s also possible to search by skills such as writing, editing, copyediting, annual reports, e-books, infographics, etc.
• Find writers by membership or genre. It’s possible to search the member database by membership type – associate, professional, retired, lifetime – or by the three main ASJA writer categories: book author, content marketing writer, or freelance journalist.
• Find writers who are members of other writer groups. If writers list the other organizations they’re affiliated with in their profiles, you can search those groups. That could be helpful if you’re thinking of joining an organization such as the National Association of Black Journalists or American Health Care Journalists and would like to talk to someone who’s an existing member.

ASJA members also have access to dozens of other benefits. Find out more by reading: 25 Ways to Get Your Money’s Worth From ASJA in 2025.

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Michelle Rafter is a Portland, Oregon, business ghostwriter and editor, and ASJA publications committee chair.