The AAJA convention is in Philly this summer and we’re offering scholarships to attend!

The AAJA National Convention will be in Philly July 26-29 and it’s a great opportunity to network with other journalists from around the country, to participate in panel discussions with seasoned journalists and to attend a career fair and resume critique sessions.

Every year we offer a scholarship for one member to go to the convention but this year, since it’s in Philly and we don’t need to pay room and board for our scholarship winners, we’ll pay for convention registration for 3-5 AAJA Philly members, depending on how much interest we get and how many students apply. (Student early bird tickets are $150 and standard early bird tickets are $250.) If applicants from the suburbs or elsewhere need travel and/or lodging accommodations, we may also be able to cover those — please note that in your application.

Our ability to send members to the convention for free comes from the kind generosity of our donor, John Curley, the former president, chairman and CEO of the Gannett company, who is a strong supporter of the Philadelphia chapter of AAJA.

Check out details below:

– You must be a current dues-paying AAJA-Philly chapter member to apply. (Renew your membership for 2017, please! It’s $65 for professionals and $25 for students.)

– Send an essay telling the AAJA-Philly board why you want to go to the convention, how you think you will benefit from it, and why you need help with the expenses. It should be 500 words or fewer. Email your essay to chapter president Juliana Reyes: juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com

Apply by Monday, March 27.

AAJA-Philly board members will review all applications and announce the scholarship winners on Friday, March 31.

Expenses will be reimbursed in the form of a check after the convention.

(If a board member wants to apply, he/she will not be part of the judging process.)

The winning applicants will be required to give an informal talk at an AAJA-Philly chapter meeting, about what you learned at the convention.

We encourage everyone who wants to go and who needs help with expenses to apply for this! Contact Juliana Reyes at juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com with any questions.