During the last few months, the SPJ membership committee and the national staff have talked about ways to possibly help laid-off journalists continue paying their SPJ membership dues. We are concerned about losing these unemployed reporters as members, perhaps permanently.

Some ideas that have been discussed include having local chapters contribute to a fund that could be used to temporarily pay dues for laid-off members, possibly for six months; reducing the membership fee for journalists who have lost their jobs, perhaps to $36; or waiving the fee altogether and giving the unemployed reporters an electronic membership.

None of these ideas, though, seem to be a clear favorite. So I’m asking for your help. Please let me know what suggestions you have. What can SPJ do to help retain members who have lost their jobs and, due to financial hardships, are unable to continue paying their dues? Do you like any of the above ideas? And would your chapter contribute to a fund for laid-off journalists?

You can respond either by adding a comment to this post or by sending me an e-mail at john.huotari@oakridger.com.

Thank you.

John Huotari
SPJ Membership Committee Chair

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Membership on Friday, March 13, 2009– 8,645
Membership one year ago — 9,212