Swiss Association of Science Journalism (SASJ)

Founded in 1974, the Swiss Association of Science Journalism (SASJ) is a professional association of current and former science journalists in Switzerland. The goals of SASJ include promoting high-quality, independent and transparent science journalism in the Swiss media landscape, developing a network between it members and members of similar associations, and fostering valuable and accurate information exchange between scientists, policymakers and the lay public. To reach those objectives, SASJ provides its members with a website, a bulletin with articles about science journalism good practices, and a weekly newsletter. It also organises various annual workshops, training courses, seminars, excursions and study trips on science and science journalism issues. SASJ currently groups around 300 members, categorised as "ordinary" and "extraordinary" members. Ordinary members work either as science editors/reporters for newspapers, magazines, websites, radio and television shows, or as freelancers. Extraordinary members hold jobs with media- and information-groups of private companies or scientific institutions. Ordinary members can also apply twice a year for a grant in investigative science journalism project. SASJ members are regularly invited through its network to science and journalism events in Europe and abroad. Having a board of eight recognized science journalists, SASJ is a full member of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ). It serves as the unique responding entity about science journalism issues in Switzerland. Its members are regularly asked to take part in juries, festival boards and other event committees about science journalism and communication. SASJ activities are financed by its members’ fees, e-commerce actions appearing in the newsletter (jobs, events announcements, etc) and external donors, albeit SASJ has clear and strict rules to ensure the full and sole independence of action of its members in in any of its events.