Become a Member
Find the right AHCJ membership for you.
People everywhere depend on health information to make critical, sometimes life-altering decisions, and that’s why we’re proud to welcome journalists around the globe to AHCJ. Health care journalism can save lives. Join us today in setting a higher standard for accurate, contextual and fair health care reporting.
Professional
Who’s eligible?
Professional Journalists (outlet and independent)
Professional membership is best for:
- Journalists employed by newspapers, wire/news services, online news organizations or general circulation magazines without ownership ties to the health industry.
- Journalists employed by commercial or publicly supported television or radio stations without ownership ties to the health industry.
- Journalists employed by industry trade publications or newsletters without ownership ties to the health industry.
- Full-time faculty in journalism or mass communication degree programs.
- Freelance journalists who spend at least 50% of their time working for independent news organizations, do not pitch stories to other journalists nor work in any media relations role. (Freelancers spending most of their time working for organizations mentioned under the Associate category, will be considered for the Associate category)
PR/Media relations professionals are not eligible for membership.
- All benefits
- Access to journals
- Mentorship Program
- Fellowship opportunities
- Posting to the email discussion list or freelance directory
- Voting on the board
- Serving on the board
- View the full list of membership benefits.
Associate
Who’s eligible?
Journalists, Faculty, Students, Retirees
Associate membership is best for:
Journalist or Faculty
- Journalists who write or edit for peer-reviewed medical or science journals published by associations or trade groups.
- Freelance journalists who spend less than 50% of their time working for independent news organizations, and who do not pitch stories to other journalists nor have any media relations role.
- Journalists who, in their primary job, write for or edit for trade group publications with health care industry ties, associations or advocacy organizations, but who do not pitch stories to other writers (or oversee others who do).
- Journalists who write for or edit health company-owned publications or websites (without pitching stories to other journalists nor working in any media relations role).
- Journalists, who in their primary job, write for or edit government publications/websites (without pitching stories to other journalists nor working in any media relations role).
- Full-time faculty in non-journalism degree programs.
Student or Retiree
- Full-time undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in journalism or non-journalism studies.
- Retirees who were formerly full-time journalists and who are not now working for another organization or freelancing.
PR/Media relations professionals are not eligible for membership.
- All benefits
- Access to journals
- Mentorship Program
- Fellowship opportunities
- Posting to the email discussion list or freelance directory
- Voting on the board
- Serving on the board
- View the full list of membership benefits.
Allied
Who’s eligible?
Health Care Professionals, Foundation Officials
Allied membership is best for:
Health Care Providers
- Health care providers who have part-time roles writing columns, blogging, broadcasting or otherwise reporting health information to the public through independent or non-independent news organizations. (Full-time health reporters who have health professional licenses could qualify for other categories depending on their employers. In no case can they join if they pitch stories to journalists or oversee others who do.)
Foundation Official
- Officials with nonpartisan/nonprofit and independent foundations that focus on health, health care or journalism issues; or nonprofit organizations focused on journalism.
PR/Media relations professionals are not eligible for membership.
- All benefits
- Posting to the email discussion list or freelance directory
- Voting on the board
- Serving on the board
- View the full list of membership benefits.