Association Of Opinion Journalists Foundation

THE ASSOCIATION OF OPINION JOURNALISTS FOUNDATION, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1981 AS THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF EDITORIAL WRITERS FOUNDATION, INC. TO CONDUCT, SPONSOR AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF OPINION JOURNALISM.

AOJ SYMPOSIUM: AOJ, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE AOJ FOUNDATION, PUT ON ITS ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM FOR AOJ MEMBERS. THIS TWO-DAY EVENT IN ST. PETERSBURG., FOCUSED ON TRAINING FOR OPINION WRITERS AND AND OFFERED WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS ON CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL ISSUES. THE FOUNDATION HELPED SUPPORT THE SYMPOSIUM BY UNDERWRITING A PORTION OF THE COSTS IN ADDITION TO PARTICIPANT EVENT REGISTRATION FEES AND SPONSORSHIPS.

MINORITY WRITERS SEMINAR: IN NOVEMBER, THE AOJ FOUNDATION, ORGANIZED A THREE-DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR OPINION WRITING WITH A FOCUS ON MINORITIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TRANSITIONING FROM NEWS REPORTING TO OPINION WRITING. THE WORKSHOP WAS HELD AT THE POYNTER INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA STUDIES IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL. AOJ FOUNDATION PAID THE TRAVEL COSTS, LODGING AND MEALS FOR THE 12 PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS.

STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING: IN LATE APRIL, AOJ, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AOJ FOUNDATION, ORGANIZED A ONE-DAY VISIT WITH DIPLOMATS AT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. AOJS VOLUNTEERS CONTACTED STATE AND SET UP THE EVENTS; THE FOUNDATION COVERED TRAVEL EXPENSES UP TO $200 FOR EACH OF THE 13 PARTICIPANTS. STATE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL PRESENTED A SERIES OF ONE-HOUR WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE WORLD.