Constitution

World Federation of Science Journalists

Preamble

In the increasingly borderless world of the 21st century, a world dominated by international operating systems, global communications networks, and pan-national commercial, educational, and cultural institutions, science and technology journalists need comparable global organizations to match and 'counteract' these major socio-political-economic developments. Such global vision and access is all the more necessary as science and technology continues to evolve both as driver, and potential destroyer, of human progress. This applies to the industrialized as well as the developing countries. Although there are distinct centres of excellence around the world, much scientific research is no longer being confined by geographical barriers or political boundaries. Science news of interest and importance to people everywhere can originate anywhere. At the same time, many problems and challenges of the modern age -- climate change, runaway population, emerging diseases, environmental pollution, ecological degradation, and even techno-terrorism -- are global issues.

The concept of a truly international, non-political, all-inclusive organization -- a World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) -- is a direct response to the new awareness of science's internationalism. A proposal for such a federation was made at the First World Conference of Science Journalists in Tokyo in 1992 and later formally included as part of the statement issued by delegates to the Second World Conference, held in Hungary in 1999. This statement, known as "The Budapest Declaration", specifically recognized Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression ... without interference ... and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

Within this framework, the WFSJ is designed to answer some specific needs of science journalists. Despite their independent nature, journalists can be influenced and educated by their colleagues from other countries. While many issues are the same no matter where one works, there are political, social, and cultural differences that shape both science and journalism in different parts of the world. It is professionally healthy to discover and appreciate the quality and quantity of good reporting and research outside one's national borders. Equally important, just as scientists benefit from the contacts made through international organizations, similar associations of journalists can create invaluable mutual-assistance networks that can span the globe, especially in the era of the Internet.

On another level, the WFSJ is intended as an instrument for making major scientific questions and technical issues transparent and addressing the scientific illiteracy of much of the world's citizenry. This means that science journalists can no longer be mere translators of science ("clever spokespeople for researchers") but rather they must be thoughtful critics and commentators, linking the world of science and technology to the daily life of ordinary persons, clarifying the processes of research and discovery, and making the public aware of the social, economic, and political context of science and technology, and its impact on society.

The collective power and influence of the WFSJ and its worldwide membership may also encourage publishers and broadcast producers to dedicate more space and time to science (including health, technology, and environment) coverage and to lend support to the professional training of science journalists, especially young journalists in the developing world. One major goal is to assist the formation of science journalists' associations in countries where there are none and to energize existing organizations.

In short, the WFSJ has the potential to promote a new culture of science journalism, one that can cope with the challenges of the 21st century and live up to the principles of civil society and democracy. Only well-informed and educated people can understand the consequences of scientific issues, or the applications of research, and ultimately support or reject them.


Article 1: Mission

1.1 The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) is a non-profit, non-governmental, international organization representing science and technology journalists' organizations in all parts of the world. WFSJ primarily represents the interest of associations of science journalists. The Federation is designed to encourage the creation of national associations, recognizing that it is a powerful tool for networking and improving science journalism. The WFSJ serves as a means for science communicators and journalists from all around the world to share in the mutual benefits of an international professional organization.

1.2 The WFSJ supports, respects, and works to promote the rights, safety, and livelihoods of science journalists in all countries, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, or sexual preference.


Article 2: Purposes and Objectives

2.1 The WFSJ strives to improve communication between the world scientific community and general society by promoting and defending the free flow of information both within that community and to the general public through the news and information media.


2.2 The WFSJ maintains a website and other means of global communication for disseminating information about advances, achievements, opportunities, and trends in science journalism, as well as current issues, problems, and threats to the field and its practitioners.

2.3 The WFSJ facilitates and encourages training, networking, and education for science journalists everywhere, and especially in the developing world.

2.4 The WFSJ organizes regular exchanges between its member organizations and their individual members, including site visits.

2.5 WFSJ members will convene every two years during the World Conference of Science Journalists, hosted by one member association.

2.6 The WFSJ helps to establish and maintain professional standards in science journalism.

2.7 The WFSJ encourages the foundation of national associations of science journalism where there are none.


Article 3: Membership and Partnership

3.1 The WFSJ is an "umbrella" organization; thus, its members are other organizations and associations, including mainly national associations of science writers, journalists, editors, and communicators.

3.2 Individuals can be represented via a national or a regional association of science writers or journalists in their region or through the International Science Writers Association (ISWA).

3.3 To become a member of the WFSJ an association must apply and be accepted in accordance with this Constitution. Membership and Partnership applications will be examined and accepted or refused by the Board of WFSJ.

3.3 To become a member of the WFSJ, an applicant must apply and be accepted in accordance with this Constitution. Membership of the Federation shall consist of the following three categories: Ordinary, Associate, and Corporate.

a) Ordinary Membership shall be open to any association, network or group of professional journalists who support the objectives of the Federation and whose candidacy in this category is ruled appropriate by the WFSJ Board. Ordinary Members shall pay an Annual Membership Fee set by the Executive Board, and are entitled to one vote per member at the General Assembly.

b) Associate Partnership shall be open to any association, council, organization, board, foundation, institute, network, or group which supports the objectives of the Federation and whose candidacy in this category is ruled to be appropriate by the WFSJ Executive Board. Associate Partners shall pay an annual fee which shall be set by the WFSJ Board. Representatives of Associate Partners may participate in debates on matters of business at any General Assembly, but shall not be entitled to vote.

b) Corporate Partnership shall be open to any statutory organizations, boards, corporations, and public and private companies which supports the objectives of the Federation and whose candidacy in this category is ruled to be appropriate by Executive Board of WFSJ. Corporate Partners shall pay an annual fee which shall be set by the WFSJ Board. Representatives of Corporate Partners may participate in debates on matters of business at any General Assembly, but shall not be entitled to vote.

3.4 Members who violate the spirit of the WFSJ constitution, or who do not fulfill duties and responsibilities of membership, particularly in regard to the timely payment of membership fees, will be warned by the Executive Board, and cease to be members if three such warnings go unheeded.

3.5 Members who have not paid their contributions lose the right to vote.

3.6 Board members are normally elected at the World Conference of Science Journalists. In the advent of a World Conference not being held within two years of the previous one, elections of the Board members will be done electronically.


Article 4: General Assembly

4.1 The General Assembly, composed of all members, is the primary deliberative body of the WFSJ. The Assembly is open to all individuals whose association is a member of the WFSJ. But, only member associations can cast a vote. Each association has one vote, and must nominate a delegate to cast its vote at the General Assembly.

4.2 World conferences, and therefore General Assemblies, should convene every two years. The choice of the host country is to be determined by the Board through a bidding process open to member associations, which takes place during the World Conference.

4.3 Proposals to change or amend the Constitution must be circulated to member organizations at least one month in advance of a General Assembly. A majority of members must be represented at the General Assembly to make any changes or amendments to the Constitution, with such action requiring a two-thirds vote of those in attendance.

4.4 The General Assembly elects the WFSJ Executive Board and the President.


Article 5: Executive Board

5.1 The Executive Board is the administrative and operational body of the WFSJ and consists of seven members: a President, a Past-President, one Vice-president, one Secretary, one Treasurer, and two at-large members.

5.2 Members of the board are to be elected every two years. The President of the WFSJ must be a science journalist who is an active member of a WFSJ member association, and a citizen of the nation that becomes the next host nation of the World Conference. The Board should reflect as much as possible its membership and cover most regions of the world. A Board member can be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms, except for a member of the Board who becomes Past President.

5.3 The Board acts within the regulations of the Constitution and those decisions imposed by the General Assembly, but also within the limits of a budget.

Article 6: Communication

6.1 The WFSJ website and e-mail newsletter are the key instruments for disseminating information among the members of the WFSJ and the Board. The Secretary of WFSJ is responsible for these communications; the Treasurer prepares and submits financial statements to the Board for transmission via the Secretary.

6.2 English is the standard language of use within the WFSJ.

6.3 The WFSJ Secretariat has to report a minimum of four times a year to the Executive Board usually during Board meetings. It is also responsible to keep the Board informed about the recommendations of the Finance committee and the Programme committee

Article 7: Finances

7.1 Funds may be accepted from non-profit, non-political sponsors and donors, provided such donors do not interfere with the independence of the WFSJ. World Conferences should also be a profitable source of income for the Federation.

7.2 The Executive Board is empowered to accept or refuse funds from donors and reports these to the General Assembly.

7.3 The Board may reduce or waive the membership fees of a member on request and will report this decision to the General Assembly.

7.4 Membership fees are set by the Board and reviewed at each General Assembly. Fees are mandatory.

Article 8: Dissolution

8.1 The WFSJ can be dissolved only by a three-fourths majority vote of all members.

8.2 In the case of WFSJ's dissolution, any assets remaining after legal and administrative obligations shall be distributed among the members.

Article 9: Activation

9.1 Amendments to the constitution are discussed and accepted by the Board. The General Assembly formerly ratifies or amends the Constitution.

9.2 For legal and administrative purposes, the WFSJ’s headquarters are officially located in Gatineau (Québec), Canada.