Associate and Corporate Partners can now join World Federation of Science Journalists

July 28, 2009 posted in WFSJ Affairs

General Assembly

A total of 30 associations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe participated on the 1st of July 2009, in the General Assembly of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), which is held every second year, during the World Conference of Science Journalists.

In a packed room, representatives of member associations unanimously approved, after modifications, the creation of two new categories of members: associate partners and corporate partners.

Previously, the World Federation of Science Journalists was exclusively a Federation of associations of science journalists and communicators. Now, the Federation’s Constitution has been modified to make it possible for organizations that share the goals of the Federation to join and for private companies to offer their support.

As the Past-President Pallab Ghosh explained: “The new category of ‘associate partner’ would make it possible for the Federation to widen its funding and strengthen beneficial partnerships. Regular members, i.e. associations of science journalists and communicators, would keep the exclusive right to vote at the WFSJ General Assembly”, specified Pallab.

Board member Deborah Blum said this new category of members was initiated following the interest of the United States’ Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) to join the Federation, mainly as an expression of support for the goals of the Federation.

Following a discussion regarding the need to clearly distinguish ‘associate partners’ (like CASW) from ‘commercial companies and private corporations’, the General Assembly approved an amendment to the Constitution which created the two new categories of ‘associate partners’ and ‘corporate partners’.

Both categories of associate and corporate partners will have to pay a membership fee, as determined by the Board. In return, they will have their logos displayed on the WFSJ web site and can participate in the General Assembly, but cannot vote.

The adopted amendments produced a new version of article 3, the essential changes being the insertion of the new paragraphs b) and c). The discussion on this amendment also led to a modification of sub-article 3.6, in the advent that the General Assembly would not be held within two years of the previous one. See Minutes of the General Assembly (London) and the full text of the new modified Constitution.

The other most important outcome of the London General Assembly was the election of the new Board of the World Federation of Science Journalists. The new board is composed of President Ms. Nadia El-Awady (Egypt), Past-President Mr. Pallab Ghosh (United Kingdom), Vice-President Ms. Valeria Roman (Argentina), General Counsel and Secretary Ms. Natasha Mitchell (Australia), Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee Mr. Jia Hepeng (China), Member-at-large and Chair of Program Committee Mr. Christophe Mvondo (Cameroon), and Member-at-large Ms. Deborah Blum (United States).