By Steven Downes, SJA Secretary
French sports organisers are getting tough on accreditation requests from British sports journalists.
Judging by the increase in requests received at the SJA offices in recent weeks, organisers of sports events in France, including rugby, football and tennis, are insisting that journalists seeking accreditation are in possession of a current membership of AIPS, the international sports journalists’ organisation.
In Britain, the SJA is the only affiliated body of journalists that is recognised by AIPS. Therefore, only paid-up SJA full members may apply for AIPS membership.
Being able to acquire AIPS membership is a significant benefit of being a member of the SJA.
In the main, the recent requests for membership of AIPS that we have received have come from journalists who are not yet members of the SJA. Their application to AIPS could not be processed without their first joining the SJA. It tends to take AIPS around a month to process new applications and deliver a membership card to new applicants.
The SJA’s annual membership subscription is £30. Full details of how to join the SJA can be found here.
A two-year membership of AIPS costs SJA members £40.
- To renew your or apply for AIPS membership visit the AIPS website here.
Once you have completed the online form, you need to contact me by email at stevendownes@sportsjournalists.co.uk. You will then be asked to pay your AIPS membership fee to the SJA by cheque or bank transfer, and you will receive the membership card in due course.
- The SJA is the largest member organisation of sports media professionals in the world. Join us: Click here for more details
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