ASJA Offers 5 Scholarships to 2025 NYC Conference
ASJA will offer five scholarships to the 2025 conference, ASJA: Always in Fashion, NYC 2025, Feb. 24-26 at the Fashion Institute of Technology and supported by FIT’s Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology and Marketing Communications Department, the presenting sponsor.
ASJA awards scholarships to talented, up-and-coming freelance journalists and nonfiction writers from historically underrepresented populations who demonstrate potential and passion for storytelling.
Scholarships cover the cost of ASJA conference registration, but not travel or hotel expenses and are funded through donations from ASJA members. At the conference, recipients can learn from industry experts, network with peers, and advance their careers.
In addition to offering scholarship recipients a chance to hone their craft, the conference allows them to connect with industry professionals and build relationships that can lead to future career opportunities.
Find out more and fill out the scholarship application form here.
2025 Conference Features Media Experts, Pitch Slams, and More
Media industry leaders speaking at the 2025 conference include Pulitzer Prize-winning feature writer Lane DeGregory, deputy editor of the New York Times’ The Great Read Mike Wilson, Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Versha Sharma, true crime bestseller T.J. English, and senior editors from AARP the Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, and Elle.com.
The three-day event provides significant opportunities for writers of all levels, from budding freelancers to seasoned professionals. Educational sessions cater to independent writers’ core interests in journalism, nonfiction books, and content marketing. Attendees can participate in pitch slams across all three genres and receive immediate feedback from top industry professionals.
Another highlight of the conference is Client Connections 2025, which takes place Tuesday, Feb. 25. It offers ASJA professional members the invaluable opportunity to book one-on-one meetings with editors, agents, and content managers from leading publications and organizations.
Only In-Person Conference Until 2027
The 2025 conference’s midtown Manhattan location at FIT perfectly embodies its commitment to keeping writers on the cutting edge of their craft. For over 50 years, ASJA’s conference has evolved alongside the industry, addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities—whether that’s developing passive income streams or mastering creating a podcast.
What sets this year’s event apart is its unique timing. The last in-person conference was in 2022. The conference will shift to a virtual format in 2026 before returning to an in-person gathering in 2027. That means ASJA: Always in Fashion, NYC 2025 is writers’ only chance to experience a national ASJA event in person for the next two years.
Scholarship applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday, Feb. 9. Recipients will be notified by or on Friday, Feb. 14, and announced in the ASJA Weekly newsletter, on the organization’s website and social media channels, and at the event.
Fill out the scholarship application form here.
For writers serious about advancing their careers and expanding their professional networks, this February’s ASJA conference is not to be missed. With its strategic timing and fashion-forward venue, the event promises to provide attendees with immediate opportunities and long-term career benefits. Hope to see you at the conference!
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Olga Torres is an ASJA board member and heads the 2025 conference scholarship committee. Her freelance work on health care, disability rights, and diversity issues has been published in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Next Avenue, and other publications. She attended her first ASJA conference in 2022 as a scholarship recipient.