What is the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC)?

Updated

JACC (jacconline.org) is a California-focused association for the journalism departments of two-year colleges. It supports both students and faculty through conferences, contests and awards, training, and member resources, and it exists to help community college journalism programs exchange ideas, strengthen their curricula, and maintain a free student press. If you are a student, instructor, or adviser in a California community college journalism program, this is the professional body that connects you to peers across the state.

Who JACC serves

JACC's membership is built around two-year college journalism departments rather than four-year universities or high schools. Its stated philosophy is to encourage equal student and faculty participation, so both groups are treated as active members rather than one serving the other.

The association's purposes, as described on the site, include:

  • Helping journalism departments exchange ideas and opinions
  • Developing and maintaining effective curricula
  • Providing enriching educational experiences for members
  • Offering mutual aid among programs
  • Developing and maintaining a free student press

What JACC provides

The site organizes its activity around a few core areas:

Area What it covers
Conferences Journalism conferences for students and faculty
Contests/Awards Recognition for student and program work
Training Professional development for students and faculty
Member Resources Materials and support for member colleges
Blog/News Updates from the association

It also maintains a Membership Directory and lists member colleges split into NorCal and SoCal programs, reflecting the association's regional structure across California.

Governance and structure

JACC is led by a Board of Directors, and the site publishes board meeting agendas and minutes. The current board term listed is 2026–2027.

The association incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 2006. Its federal Tax ID is 94-6108903, and the site notes that JACC accepts tax-deductible donations.

How to get involved

If you are part of a California community college journalism program, the site's main entry points are:

  • Join JACC – membership information for departments and individuals
  • Contact Us – direct questions to the association
  • Conferences and Contests/Awards – participate in events and competitions
  • Member Resources – access materials for member colleges

Because membership terms, event dates, and fees are not specified on the page reviewed here, check the relevant section of jacconline.org or contact JACC directly for current details.