The American Society of Journalists and Authors is offering a dozen scholarships to freelance journalists and writers from historically underrepresented populations to attend the organization’s 2024 annual conference, Sept. 24-26.
ASJA is offering more scholarships to its annual gathering for writers and nonfiction book authors than at any point in the past. It’s part of the group’s ongoing effort to advance diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion within the writing profession, and to support writers in their coverage of those issues.
“ASJA conferences offer multiple enrichment opportunities, such as the three tracks that home in on different types of writing,” said Olga Lucia Torres, an ASJA board member and head of the scholarship review committee who was introduced to the organization when she received a scholarship to a past conference.
“But the best part of the ASJA conference is the remarkable people you meet,” Torres said. “As a past ASJA conference scholarship recipient, I’m thrilled to be chairing the scholarship committee this year. ASJA’s conference scholarship provides necessary access to underrepresented writers, who can learn, establish connections, and grow their networks.”
See the ASJA 2024 conference scholarship application here.
Conference and Scholarship Details
The ASJA 2024 conference, also known as the “conference from anywhere,” is virtual and is open to members and nonmembers. It features three days of keynote speakers, educational sessions on journalism, nonfiction books, content marketing writing, and informal networking events. ASJA professional members can also participate in the organization’s signature client networking event, Client Connections 2024 – A Virtual Event!, which takes place Sept. 26-27.
Priority for scholarships is being given to nonmembers, including writers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, veterans, or others.
A limited number of scholarships are reserved for ASJA members.
To be considered, interested parties must fill out the ASJA 2024 conference scholarship application. In addition to contact information, applicants are required to share:
- How they choose to identify
- A 150-word explanation of what they are passionate about covering as a writer
- How attending the ASJA 2024 conference will help advance their freelance-writing career
- A 50-word bio and link to a professional website, LinkedIn profile, or portfolio page
- Links to 3 published works
The deadline for applying is Sept. 5. An ASJA scholarship committee will review applications and notify recipients by Sept. 13.
After the conference, scholarship recipients can – but are not required to – create a post for the ASJA Confidential blog summarizing a conference session or workshop, or profiling a conference speaker. If they opt to create a blog post, it would be due by Oct. 25.
For questions about the ASJA 2024 conference scholarship, please contact the organization at asjaoffice@asja.org.
Early bird registration runs through Sept. 3., and is $249 for members and $299 for nonmembers. Client Connections is $69 bundled with conference registration, or $129 on its own. Read more about keynote speakers, information on sessions in journalism, nonfiction books, and content marketing writing, and register here.