What does JACC membership offer to journalism students and faculty?

Updated

JACC membership is designed for two-year college journalism programs and the people in them—students and faculty alike. Based on the Journalism Association of Community Colleges' own description, the association exists to help journalism departments at two-year colleges exchange ideas and opinions, develop and maintain effective curricula, provide enriching educational experiences, and support a free student press. Membership is framed around equal student and faculty participation, so both groups are intended to take part rather than one serving the other.

What the association says it provides

The site describes JACC's purpose in terms of what member departments and their people get:

  • Idea and opinion exchange among journalism departments at two-year colleges
  • Curriculum support — helping programs develop and maintain effective curricula
  • Enriching educational experiences for members
  • Mutual aid between member programs
  • Support for a free student press

The stated philosophy is to encourage equal student and faculty participation, which matters if you're deciding whether to join as a student or as an instructor: the association positions both as participants, not just beneficiaries.

Conferences, contests, awards, and training

The site's own title describes JACC as offering "journalism conferences, awards and training for journalism students and faculty in California." The navigation confirms these as standing parts of the organization:

  • Conferences — listed as a top-level section
  • Contests/Awards — a separate section, so competitive recognition is a membership-adjacent activity
  • Blog/News — ongoing updates
  • Member Resources — a gated-looking area of resources for members

If your reason for joining is conference attendance, competition entries, or awards, those are the sections to check for current details, deadlines, and eligibility, since the site does not spell out those specifics on the page summarized here.

Membership, directory, and governance

The site lists Membership, a Directory, a Board of Directors, 2026–2027 Board Meeting Agendas/Minutes, Join JACC, and Contact Us. For a prospective member, the practical path is:

  1. Open Join JACC to see how membership is arranged.
  2. Use the Directory to check whether your college is already a member.
  3. Use Contact Us if your situation isn't covered.

The page also references OUR MEMBER COLLEGES with NorCal and SoCal Programs, which tells you membership is organized around Northern and Southern California two-year college programs.

Cost and donations

JACC incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 2006 and lists Federal Tax ID 94-6108903. The site invites tax-deductible donations and notes that "your contributions make a difference." That tells you the organization accepts donations, but the page summarized here does not state membership dues, so don't assume membership is free or paid—check Join JACC for the actual terms.

Who this fits

JACC membership makes sense if you are at a California two-year college and want the things the association names: curriculum help, conferences and training, contests and awards, resource access, and connection with other NorCal or SoCal programs. If you are outside the two-year college system, or outside California, the site's framing doesn't indicate a fit.