Membership Eligibility Policies of the Society of Environmental Journalists
Approved by the SEJ board of directors 1/10/98, revised 7/18/98, rewritten 7/13/02, rewritten and approved 7/31/10, rewritten and approved 11/21/20, rewritten and approved Jan. 24, 2026
I. Purpose and Principles
SEJ’s membership policies are intended to support SEJ’s mission of strengthening the quality, reach and viability of environmental journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues. These membership policies are designed to uphold SEJ’s identity while maximizing participation by journalists, educators and students.
The membership committee shall annually review SEJ’s membership policies, application form, and membership composition to consider whether they are serving the stated mission of SEJ and its bylaws. The committee will report language recommended for revision as needed to the Board of Directors.
SEJ members agree that their journalism-related work follows a code of ethics that includes fairness, accuracy, minimizing harm, editorial independence, accountability and transparency. For guidance, the Board recommends members consult the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics until SEJ adopts its own ethics policy.
For all categories, an SEJ member agrees to not use SEJ as a tool for public relations. Full-time communications, public relations, and lobbying professionals are not eligible for any category.
II. Membership Categories
Board and staff should refer to both bylaws and policies in interpreting eligibility by category.
A. ACTIVE Members
Assign ACTIVE membership only to individuals (staff and freelancers) primarily engaged in journalism. ACTIVE members attest they do not do any paid lobbying or public relations work on environmental issues. Their work product meets journalism standards as defined below.
B. ACADEMIC Members
Assign ACADEMIC membership to faculty and staff members of universities, colleges, high schools or other schools who have an interest in environmental issues and journalism.
To qualify for membership as Academic Members, applicants must spend less of their professional work time doing paid public relations or lobbying on environmental issues than they do on other professional work.
C. ASSOCIATE Members
Assign ASSOCIATE membership to individuals working in journalism or fields that are closely related to journalism who may spend a portion of their time (less than 50 percent) on paid public relations or lobbying related to the environment. To be eligible, an individual must attest that their primary work is journalism, or for an organization closely related to journalism, such as a journalism support organization or independent research group.
D. STUDENT Members
Student membership is available to students enrolled in and pursuing a degree or diploma in high school or higher education, or some form of journalism training. Student applicants will also, in the majority opinion of the Board of Directors or its designee(s), contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the Society. Student Members shall have all the rights and privileges of the Society, except that they shall not be entitled to hold office.
Student membership may be extended for one year after graduation.
E. HONORARY Members
HONORARY members are appointed by the Board to recognize outstanding and distinguished service to SEJ. They are exempt from eligibility policies that apply to other membership categories. Honorary members do not vote in the annual Board election. Access of honorary members to SEJ programs and services may be limited at the discretion of the Board.
Nominations may come from any SEJ member and shall be considered at one Board meeting and voted on for approval at a following meeting.
Honorary membership status may be revoked at the discretion of the Board.
III. Definitions
SEJ’s membership committee and staff employ the following in their interpretation and implementation of these policies:
Journalism is a discipline of collection, investigation, verification, interpretation and communication of facts that provides information needed by the public to make important personal, professional and social decisions.
Journalism seeks to gather and convey a fair, accurate and independent account of the meaning of that information as transparently as possible, free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.
Journalism may reveal corruption, illegal or unethical behavior or other social ills, and may at times advocate for reforms. However, its discipline of fairness, verification and independence is what separates journalism from other modes of communication such as propaganda, public relations, lobbying, fiction or entertainment. That discipline also underpins journalists’ credibility and enables them to serve as an independent voice.
Editorial independence means journalism that serves the public interest and stands against internal and external pressure to influence coverage in favor of funders, advertisers, political organizations or any other special interests.
Public relations and lobbying
Public Relations is paid, professional work designed to promote a person, business, organization or government. Unlike journalism, public relations is not editorially independent. It can involve media work such as:
- creating, developing and issuing press releases
- consulting or advising organizations’ strategic communications
- organizing and carrying out news conferences
- serving as a liaison with journalists
- pitching or promoting stories to the media
- writing or posting organizational information in newsletters, blogs, websites and social media
- creating paid sponsored content in any medium developed to promote products, businesses, individuals or political agendas related to the environment
Lobbying is paid work primarily designed to influence legislation, government regulations or public policy on behalf of a person, business, organization or government, related to the environment.
EXCLUSIONS: SEJ’s restrictions on PR and lobbying do not apply to:
- journalists promoting news stories
- journalists advocating on behalf of the practice of journalism or journalists
- students with campus employment, internships or jobs related to a student’s education
- volunteer work, including involvement in issues of public policy, for example, through the organization of educational meetings, distribution of educational materials or other efforts at educational public outreach
- public relations work that is done as a volunteer, or not on an environmental topic
- voluntarily contacting lawmakers or public officials and advocating for matters of public environmental policy
IV. Procedures for Membership Committee — Approval, Denial, Termination, Non-Renewal and Reclassification of Membership
The Membership Committee is designated by the Board of Directors to weigh in on questions related to membership applications. The Membership committee will record these decisions and rationale for its annual review related to updating these Membership Policies.
Applicants will be notified promptly if their application for membership is denied. Members will be notified if their membership is to be reclassified or not renewed based on ineligibility due to a change in jobs or job duties, or if their membership is to be terminated for cause.
A. Termination for Cause
Membership may be terminated for cause if a member has failed to be honest and complete in filling out application forms or in answering annual surveys and other inquiries, misrepresented their job status, or otherwise violated rules or policies of the organization, including but not limited to intentional misuse of online services such as an SEJ listserv or member directory.
Opportunity for a Hearing: If within 60 days of notice by SEJ, a member facing termination for cause requests a hearing, as stipulated in the bylaws, the hearing shall be conducted before the Board of Directors at the subsequent board meeting, if possible, but no later than the second board meeting following the date of the original termination notice. The member has a right to bring an attorney or other representative to the hearing. The member bears the obligation for their own travel and other expenses related to the hearing, including the cost of legal counsel. Whether or not a hearing is conducted, the final decision shall be made by the board members present at a legally constituted meeting, with a two-thirds majority vote necessary to terminate a membership for cause.
B. Reclassification of Membership
Members are encouraged to review their eligibility periodically and to contact SEJ if they need to change their membership category. Members who are subject to a change in membership category or who become ineligible based on a change in jobs or job duties shall have the opportunity to present written evidence prior to a final decision by the board or its designee (the membership committee).
C. Non-renewal of membership
Members who become ineligible for membership may be removed by SEJ staff. Non-renewal of membership is an administrative action, not to be confused with termination for cause or for non-payment of dues.Members will have the opportunity to provide evidence prior to a final decision.
D. Non-Payment of Dues
Members whose annual dues remain unpaid after the due date are no longer considered members in good standing. Dues-delinquent members will continue to receive benefits of membership and be carried on the books as members for a grace period of six months, but may not run for board service or vote in the board election. After dues are delinquent for six months, SEJ staff shall drop the member from the membership rolls.
E. Non-Member Applicants
New applicants to SEJ may appeal Membership Committee decisions to the SEJ board of directors, in writing, within 60 days of notice of the membership decision. The SEJ board will consider that submission at the subsequent board meeting, if possible, but no later than the second board meeting following the date of the original membership decision. As with non-renewal/reclassification of membership (see Section V.B.), reviewing a new applicant is an administrative action and the board is not obligated to conduct a formal hearing when considering appeals from new applicants.
F. Retired Journalists
Retired members retain the membership status held at the time of their retirement.
However, if a retired member is an active member and does part-time paid public relations or lobbying work related to environmental issues, they will be considered for the associate category.
G. Board Authority
SEJ staff shall receive and review new member applications and renewals.
At the request of staff, the membership committee shall review any application and determine application status and category, or the committee may refer the case to the Board.
The SEJ Board retains full authority to determine an individual’s eligibility for membership.
