Jazz Journalists Association

The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) is an international organization of all types of media professionals who document, promulgate, or appreciate jazz. As of 2012, it has approximately 300 members, including professional journalists, students, industry associates and supporting institutions, primarily in North America but also on other continents. The mission of the association is, "to promote high standards and respect for our works, to create a professional network, and to increase general interest in jazz." It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The president of the association (as of 2014) is jazz writer Howard Mandel.[1][2]

The organization was founded after writers and broadcasters involved in jazz convened in 1987 in Chicago. Since then the JJA has held meetings and panel discussions, frequently coinciding with major jazz festivals around North America, and online activities including its eyeJAZZ video training webinars.[3] It established a website, www.Jazzhouse.org, in 1996, and in 2007 transferred activities to JJANews.org and Members.jazzjournalists.org; the JJA also maintains Facebook pages for specific activities. The JJA's quarterly journal, Jazz Notes, is archived at JJANews.org along with new content. JJANews focuses on business-to-business information, for journalists and others professionally involved in jazz.[4]

Jazz Awards

In 1997, the Association founded the Jazz Awards, which are presented for excellence in both music and journalism. The awards are presented at a party in New York each June, and as of 2012, have 41 categories. In 2010 the JJA established "satellite parties" to demonstrate the decentralized nature of jazz activities. Such events, at which local Jazz Heroes are presented with Awards, have been held in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Gainesville, Los Angeles, Nashville, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Scottsdale, Portland OR, San Francisco, Seattle, Tallahassee, Tucson, Vancouver and Auckland, New Zealand.[5][6] The JJA Jazz Awards were streamed as live video in 2010 and 2011; those programs are archived in their entirety at UStream.com.

References

  1. ↑ "About the Jazz Journalists Association", JJ News.
  2. ↑ Howard Mandel website.
  3. ↑ "About the Jazz Journalists Association". JJA. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ Szwed, John F. (2000). Jazz 101: a complete guide to learning and loving jazz. Hyperion. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-7868-8496-4.
  5. ↑ Mergner, Lee (June 15, 2010). "Jazz Journalists Association announced winners of annual awards". JazzTimes. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  6. ↑ "The 13th annual JJA Jazz Awards" (pdf). Jazz Notes (Jazz Journalists Association). 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2011.

External links