Join OWAA
Thank you
for your interest in becoming a member of OWAA. We
welcome your request for an application.
Before
printing and completing one of the membership applications
(at right),
please review the following:
Any personal information provided will be used by Outdoor Writers
Association of America for its own purposes only. It will not be
provided to others. See our Privacy Policy.
Membership
Classifications
Active
Members who fully meet the requirements for one or more categories of
membership under the membership criteria. This
class generally includes those who make much of their living by communicating
about the outdoors, by freelancing or by employment.
Associate
Members
who wish to associate with OWAA and are paid for any work in any category listed
in the OWAA Criteria for Membership.
Student
Requires that an applicant be enrolled in an institution of higher
learning, pursuing a course of study related to the outdoors and communications.
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Criteria
Applicants for membership in OWAA must meet certain
minimum requirements based upon a set of criteria established by the Board of
Directors. Applicants must subscribe to the OWAA Declaration of Principles, the
Outdoor Creed and the Code of Ethics. Applicants may then qualify for Active,
Associate or Student Membership in the Association.
Selective applications – those specifying
that the aspirant is applying for a specific class of membership (Active and
Associate) – are not admissible. The aspirant applies only for membership. It
is the prerogative of the Executive Director, based upon the submitted evidence
and information, to assign the applicant to a membership category.
Audits of Member Qualifications: All Active
and Associate members must continue to meet the relevant criteria during their
membership in OWAA and are subject to annual audits or reviews of their
credentials as prescribed by the Board. Active and Associate members unable to
pass a credentials review may appeal to the Executive Director for an extension
of membership. The extension may be approved, at the Executive Director’s
discretion, for a period of 12 months. On the extension expiration date, the
member must undergo a successful credentials review, reduce membership status or
allow membership to expire.
Categories (Supporting material need not all
be in one category to qualify for Active membership, but the total submitted
must be judged to be the equivalent of full qualification in one category.)
A. Newspaper Writer, Columnist, Editor or
Designer - Submit sample tearsheets or photocopies of 10 compensated
articles published in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter from
supervisor or webmaster certifying your paid work) if bylines aren’t given.
Include dates of publication, copy of newspaper masthead and/or Web site
addresses. Syndicated or reprinted articles count as a single submission. Long
features will be given additional consideration.
B. Still Photographer - Submit sample
tearsheets or photocopies of 24 compensated photos published in the past 12
months. Include proof (official letter from editor or webmaster certifying your
paid work) if credits aren’t given. Include dates and names of publications
and/or Web site addresses. Works requiring unusual effort will be given
additional consideration. Unpublished photos that are sold may be considered
with proof of sale.
C. Illustrator, Cartoonist or Artist - Submit
sample tearsheets or photocopies of six full-color compensated works, or 20
black-and-white compensated works, published in the past 12 months. Include
proof (official letter from editor or webmaster certifying your paid work) if
credits aren’t given. Include dates and names publications, and/or Web site
addresses. Brochures and catalogs are not acceptable. Unpublished works that are
sold may be considered with proof of sale.
D. Magazine Full-Time Editorial Staff Member
- Submit one sample copy of printed magazine, or sample pages from online
magazine, showing masthead listings. Include pertinent Web site addresses.
Magazine must have a bona fide paid circulation, be available for sale at
newsstands or similar outlets or be published online at a commercial site. No
period of tenure required.
E. Magazine Freelance Writer, Editor, Publisher
or Designer - Submit 12 sample tearsheets or photocopies of compensated work
published and compensated in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter
from editor certifying your paid work) if credits aren’t given. Include dates
and names of publications and/or Web site addresses. Fillers, briefs and short
articles count for half credit. Syndicated or reprinted articles count as one
submission.
F. Web Site Content Director, Writer, Editor,
Photographer, Artist or Designer - Submit credentials from any single
category or combination of categories listed above. Include publication dates,
names and Web site addresses.
G. Film-Video-Audio Editor, Photographer,
Scriptwriter, Director or Producer - Submit one sample copy of an
income-producing film, video or audio production produced in the past 12 months.
Include any brochures, newspaper or magazine clips, or other announcements of
your paid work. Also include pertinent Web site addresses.
H. Broadcast (Television-Radio) Photographer,
Scriptwriter, Editor, Director or Producer - Submit sample copy of one
completed compensated show produced in the past 12 months. Include official
letter from station manager certifying your paid work, along with your
production schedule for the past year and pertinent Web site addresses. Guest
appearances do not count.
I. Book Author, Editor, Designer or Publisher
- Submit one sample copy of income-producing book produced in the past 12
months. A signed publishing contract for a book in progress counts as a
published book. Works requiring unusual effort will be given additional
consideration. Several booklets may be substituted for a single book, but
promotional booklets for commercial enterprises are not acceptable.
Multi-authorship will be equally prorated among all authors.
J. Lecturer - Submit itinerary including
dates and estimated attendances of 36 compensated appearances in the past 12
months. Include sample copies of brochures, newspaper clips or other promotional
materials and/or Web site addresses.
K. Educator or Instructor - Submit proof
(official letter from employer) verifying compensated instruction of at least
two quarter- or semester-length courses at an institute of higher learning, or
12 one-day courses for the general public, or eight weekend courses for the
general public, in the past 12 months.
L. Full-time Information Employee of Non-profit
Conservation or Recreation Agencies - Submit credentials from any category
or combination of categories listed above (it is understood that non-profit
publications may not have bona fide paid circulations; audiences may not be
paying viewers, etc.). Alternatively, applicants may submit samples of press
releases or media materials distributed in the past 12 months. Include proof
(official letter certifying your paid work, involvement or supervisory
responsibilities) if credits aren’t given. Include pertinent Web site
addresses.
M. Employee of Outdoor-Related Industries,
Agencies, Associations or Organizations (engaged in producing informative
and educational material for use by the media): Submit credentials from any
single or combination of categories listed above, along with pertinent Web site
addresses. Associate membership is the highest-possible level for this category.
To apply for membership in Outdoor Writers
Association of America, candidates must have the signed sponsorship of an active
member who is familiar with their work and can recommend the aspirant. A spouse
or relative may not sponsor an applicant for membership. Applications must be
made on the official form available from OWAA Headquarters or Here.
All applications for membership must be accompanied
by supporting evidence, as specified in the above lettered paragraphs, and by
the appropriate fees (initiation and annual dues) in order to be considered.
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Fees
| Membership Classification |
Initiation
Fee |
Annual
Fee |
| Active or Associate |
$75 |
$125 |
| Student |
$10 |
$30 |
Initiation Fees are one-time charges.
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|
