Association for Women Journalists

Student Dues Subsidies and Benefits

We expect to be able to offer free dues to students again for the 2011 calendar year. Learn more below and stay tuned for applications dates to come in Fall 2010.

About the subsidy

Journalism has always been a competitive industry, so finding mentors and opportunities to learn and prove yourself, as well as networking outside of school, is important. These economic times don’t make it easy to pay tuition and join organizations that can help. This is why a generous AWJ member, who shall remain nameless for now, has offered to pay for the dues for as many as 20 additional students to join AWJ through 2010.

Subsidies will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis with an effort to include journalism students from all the area programs. Applications will be accepted Oct. 19 through Nov. 25, 2009. These and other student membership will extended through the rest of this year and all of 2010.

The student subsidy application needs to be filled out and sent as an attachment to Ruhan Memishi. To apply for a student membership the usual way and pay the dues yourself, you can apply online.

Benefits

Students are eligible for all the same benefits as any other member receives, but there's a few especially useful to students.

AWJ has recently established the Millennials Mixer as an annual event organized by AWJ and other journalism organizations in the Chicago area. This networking event, held in late summer or early fall, offers Chicago area student and interns the chance to meet each other and more established journalists working for a variety of media.

Student have the opportunity to submit articles pertinent to the Chicago journalism community for publication on AWJ News. Contributing to AWJ News offers all members the chance to gain exposure by publishing to a site frequented by colleagues and potential employers.

Students, like other members, can volunteer to help organize and execute programs and participate in other initiatives — another way to network and assert your expertise.

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This page is edited by Karen Kring.