Welcome, New Members!
Let’s face it, while 2020 kept journalists working 24/7, it didn’t pay us that well. That is why we are offering two ways to join in 2021. One of them costs less than the other. You will decide which is right for you.
First, you should know that you will actually be joining two related organizations. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) was founded in 1909 and is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization. National SPJ is best-known for its Code of Ethics, which is continually updated to give journalists practical ways to cope with changing technology and a changing society.
The New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists (NJ-SPJ) is the “NJ Pro Chapter” of SPJ, but in many ways we function separately, with our own activities, budget and programs. Created in 1959, NJ-SPJ was the prime mover in creating NJ’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and continues to be the first line of defense for journalists in the Garden State. In cooperation with others, NJ-SPJ is one of two statewide organizations that issues NJ Press Identification Cards.
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- Full membership in national SPJ costs $75 per year. Membership in NJ-SPJ is $10. Thus, FULL membership in both costs $85 per year. (There are discounts for students and retirees. More on this down below.)
- In 2021, NJ-SPJ is allowing people who become ASSOCIATE members of national SPJ to become FULL members of NJ-SPJ. This means you spend only $30 total. (We may not repeat this next year. We know that 2020 was tough for everyone.)
What is the difference between a full membership in national SPJ and an associate membership? Quite a lot, actually. Associate members do not receive most of the benefits listed on SPJ’s “Why Join” webpage, such as a subscription to Quill magazine.
If you can afford it, we strongly urge you to become a full member of both organizations. You will be supporting other journalists while providing many opportunities for yourself. However, please choose whatever category is right for your situation.
Let’s get started. First, you need to choose the category of membership that’s appropriate for you. Then, we’ll ask you for your personal contact information. (We do not share your information with anyone, except the SPJ officers who provide your benefits.)
Membership Categories
Full Membership in national SPJ / Full NJ-SPJ Membership
Join or renew now for $78.75 national membership plus NJ-SPJ chapter membership at $10.
Add NJ-SPJ Membership to Existing SPJ Membership
I am already a member of SPJ. I simply wish to join NJ-SPJ for an additional $10 a year.
Post-Grad - Full Membership SPJ and NJ-SPJ
National SPJ membership for THREE YEARS for $39.50 and NJ-SPJ membership for THREE YEARS for $30.
I am a student or post grad, within three years of my graduation. I wish to join as a full member of both national SPJ and NJ-SPJ.
Student or Retiree (Over 62) Membership
National membership at $39.50 and NJ-SPJ membership $10. I am a student or retired, age 62 or older. I wish to join or renew as a full member of both national SPJ and NJ-SPJ.
Household Membership
I share living quarters with an existing SPJ full member. Therefore, I qualify for the “household rate,” $39.50 to be a full member of national SPJ and $10 to be a member of NJ-SPJ.
Associate Member SPJ / Full NJ-SPJ Member
I wish to join or renew as an ASSOCIATE Member of national SPJ and a FULL member of NJ-SPJ, for $30. I understand that I do not get all of the benefits of membership in national SPJ, but I get all discounts and benefits offered by NJ-SPJ.
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If you are a current member of NJ-SPJ seeking to renew your membership, please email our webmaster, Steve Lubetkin for your login information and for instructions on how to log into our new membership database where you will be able to renew your membership.
National SPJ offers payment plans if you need them. You can go to this webpage. Please remember to join NJ-SPJ while filling out the online form.