ASJA 2020 Teleconnections
 

ASJA's 49th Annual Writers Conference


Effective March 13, 2020 the 2020 ASJA Annual Conference will not be held as scheduled. An FAQ page will be created as soon as possible responding to the many questions that members and attendees may have. Please see the full announcement, below.

March 13, 2020

The Board of Directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors voted today not to hold the organization's popular annual conference scheduled for April 19-20, 2020, in New York City.

"This was a difficult decision for the Board members, many of whom were looking forward to attending the conference for education and networking, but it was a necessary one due to the risks associated with the Coronavirus pandemic," said ASJA President Milton C. Toby. "The health and welfare of our members, speakers, panelists, other conference attendees, and staff are always essential elements of our conference planning, and this year was no exception. The rapid spread of the virus and the uncertainty about how it is transmitted, along with a growing number of official restrictions on travel and meeting size, made continuing with the conference as planned an unreasonable risk."

Although there are no plans to shift the physical conference to another date later in 2020, ASJA's leadership and staff are investigating expanded virtual options for delivering many of the scheduled educational sessions. Virtual Client Connections and Virtual Pitch Slams already are established as successful ASJA-branded activities and the Board of Directors anticipate more additional virtual opportunities for learning and networking in the coming months.

Details about registration and hotel refunds are in the works and will be available as soon as possible. Announcements naming the winners of ASJA's annual freelance writing awards and other conference-related details are coming. Finally, for more information, an FAQ about this decision will be posted on the ASJA website early next week.

"Deciding not to hold the conference was a disappointment for everyone," Toby added, "and the members of the Board appreciate the support we've received as we faced a situation new to us all. The decision not to hold this year's conference does not affect next year's event, scheduled for April 18-19, 2021. We hope to see everyone in New York City next spring."