The Jazz Journalists Association, the only professional association for writers, bloggers, photographers, videographers, broadcasters and other media professionals covering jazz, for the first time offers a discount to new members. Both professional members and industry associates joining the JJA from now through June 30 will get $20 off their first annual dues — making the price of affiliation $55 for professional members, $70 for industry associates. To join using the discount, apply the promotional code 2012Awards during the payment process.
With 265 members — 27 in the “professional” category, the rest industry associates, supporters and students — the JJA represents the interests and collaborations of active communicators who are focused on sustaining interest and disseminating information about a major international art form. Members are mostly in the U.S., but also in Canada, Mexico, England, France, German, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Japan, New Zealand, Africa, Armenia, Romania and Russia.
Among us are some of the best respected veteran authors, researchers and biographers (including Nat Hentoff, Dan Morgenstern, Gary Giddins), most current journalists (such as Nate Chinen of the New York Times, Jazziz and the Gig, Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen, Patrick Jarenwattananon of NPRMusic/A Blog Supreme, Larry Blumenfeld who writes for the Village Voice and the Wall Street Journal), editors (Yvonne Ervin of Hot House, Laurence Donohue-Greene of The New York City Jazz Record), bloggers (Marc Myers of JazzWax, Doug Ramsey of Rifftides, Willard Jenkins of The Independent Ear, Don Heckman of the International Review of Music, Ted Panken of Today is the Question, David Adler of Lerterland and of course myself, Howard Mandel of JazzBeyondJazz), broadcasters (Jim Wilke, Linda Yohn, Josh Jackson, Steve Schwartz, Becca Pulliam), photographers (Enid Farber, Fran Kaufman, Michael Jackson, John Abbott, Skip Bolen, Marc PoKempner) and videographers (Kenneth K. Martinez Burgmaier, Michal Shapiro, J. Scott Fugate). Associated companies and institutions include JazzPromoServices, the New School Jazz Program, Jazz at Lincoln Center, JazzCorner, the Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Jazz Education Network, among others.
There are many benefits to Professional JJA Membership including
- a listing in JJA Member Directories
- free or discounted admission to JJA educational programs, including planned New Media workshops and conferences-– hone your skills and learn new ones so you can thrive professionally even as journalism and the music industry are being transformed by online technologies and social media.
- free or discounted admission to JJA events including the annual JJA Jazz Awards gala in New York City.
- discounted membership in the Jazz Education Network (JEN)
- free subscriptions to JJA electronic publications and reports– be informed about the latest news affecting your profession as well as news about your colleagues
As a JJA member you’ll have
- the opportunity to network with colleagues and industry associates around the world who share your professional interests and concerns
- the opportunity to publicize your work and achievements in the Member Directories and in JJA News, the JJA’s new electronic publication, distributed to a wide audience of jazz industry professionals and interested members of the public.
- the opportunity to participate in JJA-sponsored public events, such Jazz Matters panels, aimed at expanding and educating the jazz audience
- the opportunity to nominate and vote in the JJA Jazz Awards
- the opportunity to post year-end 10 best lists
Industry associates share all “professional members” benefits except voting in the JJA Jazz Awards.
The JJA’s mission is to serve the interests of journalists covering jazz — all jazz, in all media. We believe that unless there is a healthy journalistic foundation for the documentation and discussion of jazz, the music itself is endangered. We consider jazz journalists essential members of the jazz ecosystem. We seek to find common cause with musicians, presenters, publicists, educators, publishers, retailers, fans — all stakeholders in jazz.
