American Society of Journalists and Authors
Encyclopedia
The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) was founded in 1948 as the Society of Magazine Writers, and is an organization of independent nonfiction writers in the United States
. The membership consists of over 1,400 freelance writers of magazine articles, trade books, and other forms of nonfiction writing.
for authors. In March 2009, ASJA changed their policy regarding self-published authors. Fern Reiss (author of the Publishing Game book series) was the first self-published author inducted into the ASJA.
The Society offers a number of services to the public, including:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The membership consists of over 1,400 freelance writers of magazine articles, trade books, and other forms of nonfiction writing.
History
The organization was established in 1948 as the Society of Magazine Writers. In 2009 ASJA objected to the Google Book Search Settlement AgreementGoogle Book Search Settlement Agreement
The Google Book Search Settlement Agreement is an agreement between the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers and Google in settlement of Authors Guild et al. v. Google, a class action lawsuit alleging Copyright infringement. On October 28, 2008, Google announced an agreement to pay...
for authors. In March 2009, ASJA changed their policy regarding self-published authors. Fern Reiss (author of the Publishing Game book series) was the first self-published author inducted into the ASJA.
Objectives
ASJA helps professional freelance writers advance their writing careers. Members share candid data on writing rates, publishing contracts, editors, agents and more. Non-members benefit from our Contracts Watch newsletter, annual writers conference and writing resources. Editors and others can search our membership to hire experienced authors and journalists. ASJA is a member of the Council of National Journalism Organizations http://www.cnjo.org/node/16 and of the Authors Coalition of America http://authorscoalition.org/. All members are automatically enrolled into the Authors Registry http://www.authorsregistry.org/The Society offers a number of services to the public, including:
- Answering questions from and assisting other journalists and publishing professionals through the ExpertClick http://www.expertclick.com/AmericanSociety_ZUCH/Alexandra_Owens.aspx program.
- A mentoring program for beginning journalists.
- Contract Watch is a free electronic newsletter that informs independent nonfiction writers about the latest terms and negotiations in the world of newspapers and magazines. http://www.asja.org/cw/cw.php
- The Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) offers financial grants to writers in need. http://www.asja.org/weaf/
- Society publications include Tools of the Writer's Trade and the ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing http://www.asja.org/book/
- A database of willing members available to write on almost any nonfiction topic in almost any nonfiction venue or genre. http://www.asja.org/memdb/search.php
- An associated Freelance Writer Search that permits editors and publishers to advertise jobs to the entire ASJA membership. http://www.freelancewritersearch.com/
- And a number of position papers on topics from contract tips to work-for-hire and indemnification clauses. http://www.asja.org/pubtips/pubtips.php