Science writing organizations

Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ)

AHCJ logoThe Association of Health Care Journalists is an independent, nonprofit U.S. organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of health care issues. Its mission is to improve the quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting, writing and editing. AHCJ was incorporated in 1998 and held its first national meeting in 2000. Today there are more than 1,000 members of AHCJ from 48 states, the District of Columbia and 15 nations. The association has published two major media guides, one on “Covering the Quality of Health Care,” and the other on “Covering Health in a Multicultural Society.”

National Association of Science Writer(NASW)

NASW logoThe National Association of Science Writers is the United States’ largest and oldest general science writing membership organization. Founded in 1934, it seeks to  foster the dissemination of accurate information regarding science and technology through all media normally devoted to informing the public. NASW promotes the professional interests of science writers. Its members are professional science writers, instructors of science writing, and science writing students. This includes — but is not limited to — journalists, authors, editors, producers, public information officers, and people who write and produce films, museum exhibits, and other material intended to inform the public about science and technology. Membership numbers about 2,500, with about half working as freelance writers.

Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ)

SEJ logoThe Society of Environmental Journalists is the only North-American membership association of professional journalists dedicated to more and better coverage of environment-related issues. SEJ’s mission is to increase public understanding of environmental issues by improving the quality, accuracy and visibility of environmental news reporting.  SEJ is an independent, nonpartisan grassroots educational group dedicated to the highest standards of public service journalism.  SEJ’s membership now includes more than 1,500 highly qualified journalists, editors, educators and students working in print, broadcast and online news media throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and 27 other countries. Members and others who use SEJ services report environmental news and information to millions of readers, listeners and viewers worldwide, on a daily basis.

 World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ)

The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2002, that represents 40 associations of science and technology journalists from Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. It is, in short, an association of associations. The WFSJ seeks to further science journalism as a bridge between science, scientists and the public. It promotes the role of science journalists as key players in civil society and democracy. The Federation’s goals are to improve the quality of science reporting, promote standards and support science and technology journalists worldwide.