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Membership Benefits

The SJA – who is it for?

The SJA represents sports journalists in Britain and those based in Britain but working abroad.

The SJA is an essential service for all sports journalists – writers, sub-editors, photographers, presenters, producers, cameramen and editors – working in national and regional press, magazines, radio and television.

The SJA has three levels of membership; Full Membership, Associate Membership and membership of the SJA Academy, designed for those working on student media or studying on journalism courses.

Who these memberships are for and the membership criteria are listed below.

 

What does the SJA do?

The Association represents the British sports media on the British Olympic Association’s press advisory committee and offers advice to members covering other major events. The SJA also acts as a consultant to organisers of major events who need guidance on media requirements.

In addition, we organise two major awards functions each year – the British Sports Awards sponsored by The National Lottery in December, and the British Sports Journalism Awards in March. The journalism awards are widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the industry.

Membership Benefits

 

Full Membership

Full membership of the Sports Journalists’ Association is open to those working in any branch of the business – reporters, broadcasters, photographers, editors, sub-editors, and cartoonists; in newspapers or magazines, in print or online, on radio or TV.

Membership criteria:

  • Membership is strictly restricted to professional journalists based in Britain, a significant proportion of whose work is in sport
  • Applicants may work abroad – but they must provide a British postal address
  • Applicants must demonstrate they predominantly earn their living from sports journalism and are one of the below:

– Staff member
– Commissioned freelancer who has paid work published
– Regular casual
– Or are employed by, or who have work regularly commissioned by, an established photographic agency

Note: Setting up a sports media outlet (magazine, personal website or offering services as an unpaid photographer/broadcaster/journalist) does not qualify for membership of the SJA.

  • Applications should be proposed and seconded by a current SJA member
  • Your application should be supported by full employment and career details and examples of your work
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For guidance, examples of work:

– Should be professionally published within the last three month
– Should clearly show publication name, date and by-line or credit
– Photographers should submit a portfolio of work
– Broadcasters can submit digital audio or video clips by email to: info@sportsjournalists.co.uk
– For sports journalists whose work does not usually appear in a “bylined” format (sub-editors, photo editors, producers etc), we will accept a signed covering note from a current sports editor or relevant department head who commissions or oversees your work

Applications which do not fulfil the criteria above will not be considered.

To clarify application criteria, please contact SJA Secretary Philip Barker: info@sportsjournalists.co.uk

 

Associate Membership

Associate membership is available to those in allied or related work, such as public relations, sports press officers or sports professionals.

It is also extended to those working in sports journalism but not in a full-time capacity. For example, an individual who runs a sporting blog, a sports podcast or who edits/contributes to sports publications on a part-time basis.

Membership criteria:

  • Membership is strictly restricted to those in work related to Sports Journalism or those working in Sports Journalism but not in a full-time capacity
  • Applicants may work abroad – but they must provide a British postal address
  • Applicants should provide evidence that they meet the membership criteria above. You can do this providing employment and career details and examples of your work during the application process
    •  

For guidance, examples of work:

– Should be professionally published within the last three months
– Should be professionally published within the last three months
– Should clearly show publication name, date and by-line or credit
– Photographers should submit a portfolio of work
– Broadcasters can submit digital audio or video clips by email to: info@sportsjournalists.co.uk
– For sports journalists whose work does not usually appear in a “bylined” format (sub-editors, photo editors, producers etc), we will accept a signed covering note from a current sports editor or relevant department head who commissions or oversees your work

To clarify application criteria, please contact SJA Secretary Philip Barker: info@sportsjournalists.co.uk

 

The SJA Academy

The SJA Academy is designed for anyone interested in a career in sports journalism.

Anyone over the age of 16, not employed in a journalism role, can apply to join and it’s totally free of charge.

The SJA is committed to encouraging the next generation of sports media to take their next steps in this industry we love, offering support and advice from our members and prestige opportunities to showcase work.