Put your skills to work — and build new ones along the way.
PMJA's six standing committees are where real decisions get made: conference programming, member outreach, awards, governance, and more. Whether you're a working journalist, a manager, or someone who supports public media from outside the newsroom, there's a place for your perspective here.
Sign me up! Email us and we'll help you find the right fit.
Six committees · All volunteers welcome
Opportunity & Access Committee
Expanding opportunity and access across public media journalism
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- Develop and track meaningful metrics and create benchmarks to embody the diversity, equity and inclusion goals stated by the Board of Directors
- Evaluate the effectiveness of membership, training, conference and awards programs in supporting the Board’s stated goals
- Recommend strategies, policy changes and action steps to the Board that will advance efforts to achieve their stated goals
- Recommend process improvements and programming to other committees that will elevate the opportunities and resources available to help build an inclusive and equitable public media system
Conference Committee
Shaping the theme, speakers, and experience of the annual conference
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- Focus on selecting the conference theme and overall structure of the event
- Identify keynote speakers to support the conference theme
- Develop the call for proposals
- Improving representation of all groups in public media journalism through programming that is conscious of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Ensure adequate funding to execute the conference through grants and sponsorship
- Develop exhibitor strategy and participate in soliciting participation
- Work with local host stations to ensure representation of local culture and outreach to appropriate local audiences
- Outreach to non-members in the geographic region where the conference is held
- Reviews ratio of resource input to impact to ensure PMJA time and resources are providing the greatest value for members
Membership & Outreach Committee
Connecting members to each other and to the full value of PMJA
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- Articulates the various ways in which members can benefit from and participate in the work of PMJA
- Assists staff in membership renewal and retention efforts
- Assists staff in identifying potential members
- Identifies opportunities to engage members in the organization and bring their perspectives, expectations and needs to the table
- Develop and implement engagement activities that connect members to PMJA and to one another, both informally and through PMJA events and programs
- Reviews ratio of resource input to impact to ensure PMJA time and resources are providing the greatest value for members
- Makes recommendations to the Bylaws and Governance committees regarding membership structure as necessary
- Works with other committees on issues that relate or intersect with member engagement and outreach activities
Bylaws & Governance Committee
Keeping PMJA's operations sound, fair, and future-ready
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- Responsible for maintaining the integrity of the bylaws and board governance manual
- Ensure timely and compliant elections of board members and officers
- Organize and execute annual business meeting of members
- Develop a board member, officer, and committee recruitment strategy, taking into account desired skill sets and diverse perspectives. Continually identify and recruit candidates.
- Orient and onboard appointed candidates, emphasizing opportunity and access
- Develop and implement a plan for continually educating the board, committees and officers, and continually strengthen the bonds among such individuals to encourage independent expression of ideas and collaborative decision-making
- Review the performance of the board and committees, including the effectiveness of meetings, and make recommendations, as appropriate
- Periodically review the defined and adopted mission and vision statements of the organization and whether they are consistent across documents and activities
- Periodically review the governing documents of the organization and whether they are consistent with applicable laws and actual or desired organizational practices; amend such governing documents, as necessary
Training & Education Committee
Analyzing field needs and building programs that advance public media journalism
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- Analyze the training and educational needs of the public media journalism field
- Participate in the development and improvement of training and education programs
- Develop opportunities for advanced learning and leadership training working with partner organizations and subject matter experts
- Identify ways to increase opportunity and access throughout public media via educational opportunities offered by PMJA
- Support stations sharing innovations and best practices through opportunities and resources offered by PMJA
- Develop mentorship programs to increase multidirectional learning that will improve opportunity and access in the public media system
- Review ratio of resource input to impact to ensure PMJA time and resources are providing the greatest value for members
Awards Committee
Recognizing outstanding journalism — and making sure the right people know to enter
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- Review current awards structure and recommend areas where changes are needed with the intention of streamlining the process to reduce barriers to entry
- Identify and recruit awards judges that represent a diverse and inclusive range of perspectives
- Conduct outreach to actively seek and solicit nominations for awards to ensure outstanding entries from a diverse range of entrants
- Present the nominees for the New Voices, Editor of the Year and the Leo C. Lee awards to the Board
- Plan and carry out the awards ceremony
Quick answers
How often do committees meet?
Most committees meet monthly for about an hour, ramping up around big projects like the annual conference. Expect a natural break around the conference and winter holidays.
What does the work actually look like?
It varies by committee and project — you might craft policy language, research peer organizations, lead a member meet-up, or occasionally just call a member to say thanks.
Do I have to be a PMJA member or a journalist to volunteer?
Nope. PMJA values a wide range of volunteers — that sometimes means reaching outside the newsroom for help with marketing, fundraising, or planning.
What do I get out of it?
You'll deepen your understanding of public media, build real leadership experience, and connect with peers doing meaningful work across the field.
Early Childhood Reporter Minnesota Public RadioTraining & Education Committee
Managing Editor KPBS Public Media (646)831-3352Bylaws & Governance Committee
