Professional Organizations at the School

• The American Society of News Editors focuses on leadership development and journalism-related issues. Founded in 1922 as a nonprofit professional organization, ASNE promotes fair, principled journalism, defends and protects First Amendment rights, and fights for freedom of information and open government. Leadership, innovation, diversity and inclusion in coverage and the journalism work force, youth journalism and the sharing of ideas are also key ASNE initiatives. Members can be editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments; deans or faculty at university journalism schools; leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations and other individuals at the board’s discretion.

• The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) is an independent membership 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. It holds a national conference each year, publishes a quarterly newsletter, offers regional workshops and creates Web-based tutorials and resources for journalists.

• The Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism is a program of AHCJ aimed at ensuring journalists are properly trained to cover news events, trends, and issues in all aspects of health care journalism, including the business of health care, public policy, medical research, medical practice, consumer health issues, public health, health law and ethics.

• The Center on Religion and the Professions (CORP) works to improve religious literacy among professionals, including journalists, so that they can better serve, cover and communicate with a diverse public. The interdisciplinary center supports the school’s commitment to teaching students the principles, techniques and knowledge required to reflect society’s needs and values. Its director is also executive director of the Religion News Association, a professional association for journalists who write about religion in mainstream media.

• Investigative Reporters and Editors is the nation’s leading organization for investigative reporters. It has 5,500 members, hosts workshops, conferences, online training, boot camps and custom trainings for news organizations throughout the year. IRE also publishes a quarterly magazine, the IRE Journal, and several books including the Reporters Handbook. Students help produce the magazine, work in IRE’s data library and in other positions with the organization, and have the option of taking a course in investigative reporting, taught by the executive director of the organization.

• The Missouri Interscholastic Press Association was founded in 1923 at the Missouri School of Journalism. It is the clearing house for students and teachers in middle schools, junior high and high schools who participate in their newspapers, broadcasts, yearbooks and magazines. For membership information, please contact the Missouri School of Journalism. MIPA sponsors a Summer Media Workshop for high school students. For more information, call 573-882-6031. Applications are available through the MU Conference Office.

• The National Institute of Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR) instructs working journalists and students in how to tap databases of governments and other institutions for important stories. Journalists from leading newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and networks regularly attend NICAR’s training sessions, held both in Columbia and in major cities worldwide. NICAR is a joint venture of the Missouri School of Journalism and IRE. Our students can enroll in computer-assisted reporting taught by the same people who teach the professionals.