I joined TJA when it was a Slack group and a listserv! Do I have to sign up for an account here, too? 

Yes, everyone now has to renew a yearly membership on our members platform. This is so we keep our records up-to-date.

For instance, we have more opportunities — such as the TJA x Business Insider Fellowship — which are available only to TJA members in good standing. This membership system lets us check who's an active and inactive member of the org. 

Can I join the TJA if I'm cisgender, or I'm not cisgender and I also don't specifically identify as trans, or I am trans and have not come out professionally? 

Yes, we welcome journalists of all identities. If you have an interest in accurate and fair coverage of trans communities and the issues relevant to them, or in discussing trans-inclusive newsroom policies, those are all good reasons to join. 

That said, some of the TJA’s online community spaces are exclusively for trans, nonbinary, or gender-expansive journalists who are comfortable self-describing as such in a semi-private online space. Journalist members may request access to these spaces at any time. 

I can't pay for a membership! Is that OK?

Totally fine! Our individual memberships are free. However, we ask that you consider donating if you’re able to afford it. We suggest optional donation levels based on tiers.

Why is the community membership tier's recommended donation amount higher?

Many industries outside of journalism pay more than newsrooms or freelance work. But, again, it's just a suggestion! We appreciate any support.

I got laid off from my journalism job! Do I still qualify for a journalist membership?

Yes! That's probably when networking in a journalism organization is most useful to you!

I joined the TJA when I was a journalist, but I have left journalism, and I don't plan to come back. Is there some way I can still support your work?

You can still be a community member! We value the expertise and insight of former journalists. And if you decide to return to journalism, you'll still have access to our jobs boards and trainings as a community member. 

We just ask that you leave the journalist-only listservs and Slacks if you are no longer deriving income from journalistic work and do not plan to return to the industry in the near future. 

I've never worked in journalism, but I still want to support your work. How can I do that? 

You can join as a community member! This type of membership is intended for anyone who has a strong personal interest in the coverage of trans issues and who upholds the mission of the organization. 

It's broadly intended to support those who are interested in following our work closely, considering working in journalism, or developing journalism skills to support other work.

I work in PR or communications. Am I a journalist member or a community member?

Many of our part-time or freelance journalist members work in both journalism and communications, as skills overlap. Freelancers who write for editorially independent publications and also hold jobs in the public relations industry are welcome to join as journalists. They have the same access to organizational resources that any full-time staff journalist has.

There’s one big exception: If you hold any paid position that involves sending press releases on trans topics to journalists, sending other PR communications on trans topics to solicit coverage from publications, or overseeing people who do, please apply only for the community membership tier. That applies whether you’re engaged in that work full-time, part-time, or as a freelancer.

(If you have more questions about this, we explain further under at the bottom of this FAQ.) 

Please note that anyone who wishes to join our online, journalists-only communities must sign our community agreements. These attest that you will not promote press releases, requests for coverage, or other forms of solicitation in the TJA's spaces.

What if I could arguably fall under a journalist or community membership because I am a freelancer who takes contract or full-time work in another industry, or because I do journalistic work but my current employer is not a journalistic publication? 

Use your best judgment! Does your workplace, or the outlet(s) you tend to freelance for, have a mission statement that affirms editorial independence? Do you follow a code of journalistic ethics? If so, you likely qualify for our journalist tier.

There’s one big exception: If you hold any paid position that involves sending press releases on trans topics to journalists, sending other PR communications on trans topics to solicit coverage from publications, or overseeing people who do, please apply only for the community membership tier. That applies whether you’re engaged in that work full-time, part-time, or as a freelancer.

(If you have more questions about this, we explain further under the next question.) 

Why does sending journalists/publications press releases or other PR communications to solicit coverage of trans topics mean someone should join as a community member?

Our journalist members need spaces to discuss coverage and workplace issues without worrying that someone from an organization they might cover is present. 

It's also a basic journalistic ethics standard to avoid potential conflicts of interest in spaces where we discuss coverage best practices. This is similar to membership rules employed by other journalism organizations that produce coverage guidance and training on specific topical areas. 

Our community members still have full access to job boards, trainings, organizational communications, and most other resources that the TJA offers. But they cannot apply for our journalists-only Slack or listservs.

This type of membership is for anyone who has a strong personal interest in the coverage of trans issues and who upholds the mission of the organization. It's broadly intended to support those who are interested in following our work closely, considering working in journalism, or developing journalism skills to support other work.

We hope that our community members will still be an active, integral part of our organization, much like "ally" and "affiliate" tiers of other journalism associations. And if your professional situation changes, you are always welcome to request a change to your membership category.