Across the country, our dozens of local chapters are the backbone of NABJ. They do excellent work on behalf of black journalists. All NABJ members are urged to join a local professional or student chapter, and help to serve. If there isn’t a chapter near you, then help start one. The benefits of becoming an affiliate chapter are numerous.
NABJ chapters are affiliated with a progressive, professional association dedicated to journalism excellence and diversity in newsroom staffing and news coverage. However, please understand that as a public, non-profit organization, NABJ needs to keep our house in order. So we require chapters to be compliant with the association’s procedures and policies to maintain NABJ’s integrity and mission. To that end, here is a one-stop online resource intended to help build, revive, grow and elevate local chapters.
Chapters also have the opportunity to apply for grants twice a year. The grant application can be found here.
I. Becoming a NABJ Chapter
I. Becoming a NABJ Chapter
Learn about all of the mandates required at the time of application. For starters, there’s an online professional and student affiliate application form — remember, incomplete applications will not be considered — and a need for a constitution and/or bylaws. Here are sample bylaws for professional chapters and sample bylaws for student chapters.
II. Annual Professional Chapter Audits
II. Annual Professional Chapter Audits
(Postmark deadline: Dec. 1)
Click HERE to submit an audit online.
All affiliate professional chapters must satisfy an annual audit that involves the submission of more than a dozen forms to the NABJ national office.
For starters, there are bonding and financial procedures to ensure against the misuse of funds; a request for a chapter officers list to make sure local President and Vice President (s) must be professional members and the remaining officers MUST be NABJ members, and a verification form checking to see that chapters, among other things, are holding regular meetings and communicating with their members.
III. Annual Student Chapter Audits
III. Annual Student Chapter Audits
(Postmark deadline: Nov. 1)
Click HERE to submit the audit online.
Reminder: Each student chapter must complete an audit to verify, among other things, that it holds regular meetings and has an advisor who is a professional member of NABJ or a full-time professor who is an academic member of NABJ. The deadline is November 1. Be advised, the audit checklist and chapter officers list for student chapters differ from those required for professional chapters.
Click HERE to download the Chapter forms (PDF, requires Adobe Reader):
NOTE: Professional and student chapters failing to satisfy audit requirements will be decertified and will have to reapply for affiliation.
V. Chapter Resources
V. Chapter Resources
The Council of Presidents is a standing NABJ committee comprised of chapter presidents. The Council fosters effective chapter management, develops strategies for chapters to recruit and retain members as well as raising funds for scholarships and other award programs. It also aggressively recruits members to NABJ and works to reach a consensus and make recommendations on how issues and concerns can be addressed and resolved within NABJ. The Council communicates with its members, other NABJ leaders and otherwise shares chapter-related news primarily via a dedicated listserv. To join the listserv, contact Council Chair Siobhan Riley.
Chapter Training
Chapter Training
Title: Making Chapters Soar – Building a Strong Chapter Base & Improve Fundraising through Branding, Social Media and E-mail Marketing
Click HERE to view the PowerPoint training.
