BYLAWS
• Sensitize the media to racism in coverage of news events, and
seek to expand coverage of the black community in America and abroad;
•
Advocate for journalistic freedom in the United States and, when possible,
Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the black Diaspora.
•
Monitor Equal Employment Opportunity and Federal Communications Commission
laws and, where necessary, seek compliance with and lobby for changes
in those laws.
•
Produce a newsletter.
•
Award scholarships to, mentor and groom student journalists at high schools,
colleges and universities.
•
Honor excellence and achievement among black journalists.
•
Lobby for appointment of black professors in journalism schools.
•
Act as a clearinghouse/network for employment opportunities.
•
Work to expand opportunities for black journalists in managerial and supervisory
positions.
The NYABJ shall remain at all times a non-partisan organization that does not endorse political candidates. NYABJ’s activism shall be limited to taking positions on issues related to journalism. The organization shall not engage in any activity that jeopardizes its tax-exempt status.
ARTICLE II -- MEMBERSHIP
Section I
Mirroring the membership guidelines of the National Association of Black
Journalists, of which NYABJ is an affiliate, the NYABJ will grant full
membership to any full-time journalist (reporters, editors, photographers,
graphic artists, newsroom managers and the like who are directly involved
with the gathering and dissemination of news.) or full-time freelance
journalists. Associate membership is granted to part-time freelance
journalists, journalism teachers, public relations professionals or
anyone in a media-related area. Student membership is granted to students
enrolled in an accredited college or university. All membership applications
will be reviewed by the membership committee.
Section II
Membership dues will be made payable to the NYABJ through the treasurer
on an annual basis. Members are entitled to free copies of the NYABJ
newsletter and notice of monthly meetings and, unless otherwise posted,
free admittance to monthly meetings and other NYABJ functions.
ARTICLE III -- OFFICERS
Section I
Officers of the NYABJ shall be full members and shall consist of the president,
vice-president print, vice-president broadcast, secretary, deputy secretary,
treasurer, deputy treasurer, and parliamentarian. All officers shall
serve a two-year term effective January 1st, following election the
previous November. The president and vice-presidents cannot serve more
than two successive terms in their respective offices. Vice-presidential
nominees must have an interest in assuming the presidency. The deputy
secretary and the deputy treasurer shall be appointed by the president,
subject to approval by the general body. The body of NYABJ officers
shall be known as the Executive Board.
Section II: The President and Immediate Past President
The president shall preside over all meetings of the NYABJ membership
and the executive board. The president shall see that all decisions of
the membership are carried out. The president shall act as the official
spokesperson for the organization. The immediate past president shall
serve on the executive board for one two-year term with full voting rights.
The president shall designate a vice president to act in his or her stead
when necessary.
SECTION III: Vice Presidents
A designated vice-president shall act in the president’s stead when
the president is unable to perform his or her duties. The vice presidents
also will oversee committee operations, with those assignments based on
the vice presidents’ respective interests and/or expertise.
SECTION IV: Presidential Succession
Upon the resignation of the president or if the president is unable to
perform his or her duties, one of the vice presidents shall be chosen
by the executive board to assume the presidency. A vote of the full
membership must confirm the executive board’s selection.
SECTION V: The Secretary
The secretary will keep a record of all meetings of the executive board
and the membership and maintain the organization’s archival files,
including an annual roster of scholarship winners and award recipients.
The secretary will also send out meeting notices at least 10 days prior
to any NYABJ meeting. The secretary will also submit to the newsletter
committee brief summaries of major executive board activity. The deputy
secretary shall assist the secretary, retrieving mail regularly from
the NYABJ office and post office box, sorting it and delivering it to
the appropriate NYABJ officer or committee leader and taking minutes
in the secretary’s absence.
Section VI: The Treasurer
The treasurer shall maintain a thorough financial record of all monies
received and spent by the NYABJ, submit financial information in a timely
manner to NYABJ’s accountant for tax purposes and quarterly financial
reports of expenditures, receipts, investments, etc. to the executive
board and full membership. No checks will be issued without the signatures
of the treasurer and the president. Along with the membership committee,
the treasurer shall maintain a current list of all dues-paid members.
The deputy treasurer shall assist the treasurer. Expenditures in excess
of $500 must be approved by the Executive Board. A final financial report
for major events must be submitted to the full membership within 60
days after said event. The treasurer and deputy treasurer, as need be,
will handle payments and other monetary transactions at such NYABJ functions
as the annual awards dinner. The treasurer shall also submit a proposed
budget for each year’s spending and a financial report on the
previous year’s spending.
Section VII: The Parliamentarian
The parliamentarian shall preserve order, regulate the course of debate,
oversee elections and monitor procedures during meetings of the general
body and the executive board. The parliamentarian shall also chair the
bi-annual review of the bylaws, revising them as need be and presenting
them for the full membership’s review and approval.
Section VII: The Executive Committee
The president, immediate past-president, vice president print, vice president
broadcast, secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer, deputy treasurer
and parliamentarian will comprise the executive board. The executive
board may meet at any time. The executive board is responsible for the
administration of NYABJ. Only full members are allowed to sit on the
executive board.
Section VIII: Standing Committees
The standing committees of NYABJ are: Awards Dinner, Awards Competition,
Fundraising, Media Watch, Membership, Newsletter, Publicity, Web site,
Program and Scholarship/Student Outreach.
Committee co-chairs shall be appointed by the president. Committee co-chairs shall be responsible for presenting regular reports of committee activities to the executive board and to the general body during monthly meetings, and delivering copies of those reports for the secretary’s archival files. Co-chairs cannot vote on NYABJ business matters.
The Awards Dinner Committee shall facilitate all aspects of the annual scholarship and awards dinner, from selecting the dinner site to soliciting the full membership’s vote on dinner honorees.
The Awards Competition Committee shall oversee the annual journalism awards contest.
The Publicity Committee shall assist the Program and other committees with publicizing NYABJ events and activities in the local media, as well as establishing links with other community organizations and leaders.
The Fundraising Committee shall pursue grants and explore other revenue sources for NYABJ.
The Media Watch Committee shall coordinate and facilitate the fulfillment of the goals of the organization, monitoring news coverage; maintaining a forum in which members can submit news clips, broadcasts, Web pages of coverage deemed racially insensitive; monitoring existing Equal Employment Opportunity and Federal Communications Commission laws, et cetera.
The Membership Committee shall conduct membership drives and related activities; send notices to members about membership renewal; ensure that each member has a membership card designating their status as life, full, associate or student members; inform other NYABJ committee leaders about members who note on membership applications their desire to work on a specific committee.
The Newsletter Committee shall coordinate and produce a quarterly newsletter about news issues, NYABJ happenings, NYABJ member activities, promotions, et cetera.
The Web Site Committee shall maintain that forum, updating it as need be.
The Program Committee shall coordinate professional skills and other development sessions for members or social mixers for members or community forums on topical issues or activities done in conjunction with other journalism associations, et cetera.
The Scholarship/Student Outreach Committee shall administer the annual scholarship and essay competition; oversee the annual high school journalism workshop; oversee the annual Brothers Back to School project; solicit members from among journalism students and instructors within the New York college community; help organize and advise college-based NABJ chapters.
ARTICLE IV -- PROCEDURE
Section I: Meetings
The NYABJ general body shall meet 11 months out of the year. Special meetings
may be called at the discretion of the executive board.
Section II: Voting stipulations
A majority vote is necessary to activate any NYABJ resolution. However,
before such action can be taken, a minimum of 20 voting members must
be present.
Section III: Voting eligibility
To vote in a general election a member must be paid-in-full. Only full
members have voting privileges.
Section IV: Notification of elections
Notification of elections and election procedures, and requirements for
office must be given to the membership in September and October, preceding
the November election. Members must formally declare their run for office,
submitting their names via e-mail or snail mail to the parliamentarian
and secretary by October 30th. Members must receive ballots via the
postal service three weeks before the election. Signed absentee ballots
must be received by the day of the election to be counted as valid.
Members may vote via absentee ballot or cast a vote at the November
meeting, which, during election years, shall be NYABJ’s election
day.
Section IV: Replacement of officers
Motions calling for the resignation or removal of an officer shall be
reviewed by the general body. A two-thirds majority vote of members
in good standing is necessary for such a motion to carry. Interim replacement
of officers in the midst of their elected term shall be decided by the
executive board if no candidates emerge to fill such vacancies. Such
decisions are subject to approval of the general body.
Section V: Eligibility requirements for candidates
Candidacy for all elected offices is limited to full NYABJ members who
have been members in good standing for at least six (6) months prior
to elections. This rule may be relaxed at the executive board’s
discretion.
Section VI: Dues
NYABJ membership dues shall be determined by the general body.
Section VII: Payment of dues
Dues shall be paid on an ongoing basis and are good for one calendar year
from the time of payment.
