About

Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that supports the creation and dissemination of accurate, balanced, ethical and informative journalism on all of jazz’s genres and encourages the creative use of media to spur the growth, development and education of the audience for jazz. It is a membership-supported organization, providing forums for the discussion of jazz-related issues and events, fostering the development of journalistic and presentation skills among emerging journalists (writers, photographers, broadcasters, videographers, and new media users) as well as offering opportunities and encouraging the development of new skills — including knowledge of online and social media — to journalists already engaged in the field.

We believe that jazz is an important cultural resource and means of individual and community expression. Jazz Has its roots in African-American music and history, and it has developed to include participants of all races and backgrounds. Jazz media should reflect the diversity of jazz itself.

The legacy of jazz must be preserved while the music continues to evolve; jazz must also remain visible and available to diverse populations and all ages. To these ends, the JJA stresses that community network building and effective media use go together; we also work to build networks and media skills among musicians, educators, local presenters and listeners themselves, and we encourage the use of these networks and skills to tell local jazz stories.