Journalism and Mass Communication Honor Societies

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Weighing the costs and benefits: A guide to Honor Societies

Editor’s note: This guide is meant to provide a quick overview and offer easy comparison information of the journalism and mass communication honor societies described in greater detail last week. 


By Lindsey Wotanis
Marywood University

Kappa Tau Alpha

http://www.kappataualpha.org/

Key Facts:

  • Founded 1910
  • “Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.”
  • 96 chapters nationwide

Key Benefits:

  • National recognition for academic excellence
  • Academic and service awards for outstanding seniors

Costs:

  • To start a chapter: No charter fee
  • Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
  • Honor cords: $8 plus shipping

GPA Requirements:

  • Must have at least a 3.00 GPA (on 4.0 system) in junior/senior level journalism/mass communication courses.

Lambda Pi Eta

https://www.natcom.org/student-organizations/lambda-pi-eta

Key Facts:

  • Founded 1985
  • “Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the National Communication Association (NCA) official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. Membership in Lambda Pi Eta signifies distinguished achievement in the discipline of Communication.”
  • 500 chapters nationwide

Key Benefits:

  • Annual national convention in November
  • “Chapters are communities of students and faculty that organize a wide variety of philanthropic, academic, and social programs.”

Costs:

  • To start a chapter: $100 application fee with $35 annual renewal fee
  • Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
  • Honor stole: $25

GPA Requirements:

  • Must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA and 3.25 in all Communication Studies courses with 60 credits completed

 

National Broadcasting Society/Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho)

http://www.nbs-aerho.org/

Key Facts:

  • Founded 1943
  • “NBS-AERho enhances the development of college students preparing for careers in electronic media industries.”
  • 60 chapters nationwide

Key Benefits:

  • Annual national undergraduate competition (minimum $25 per entry for student members)
  • Chapter awards
  • Annual national conference

Costs:

  • To start a chapter: $100 charter application fee
  • Member dues: Students: $50/year or optional chapter block registration set-up
  • Honor cords: $50

GPA Requirements:

  • 3.25 GPA cumulative and in all electronic media courses and have completed at least three semesters. Individual chapters may set higher requirements.

 

Society for Collegiate Journalists

https://scjnational.org/

Key Facts:

  • Founded 1919
  • “The nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college media leaders.”
  • 100 chapters nationwide

Key Benefits:

  • Annual national contest and major awards with no entry fees
  • Biennium conference linked with College Media Association Fall Convention on even years
  • Financial support for chapter programming efforts

Costs:

  • To start a chapter: $30 charter fee
  • Individual initiation fee: $30 for lifetime membership
  • Honor cords: $15

GPA Requirements:

  • None, though individual chapters may set requirements

 

Society for Professional Journalists

https://www.spj.org/

Key Facts:

  • Founded 1909
  • “For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.”
  • 250 chapters nationwide

Key Benefits:

  • Annual Mark of Excellence Awards for student journalists ($10 per entry for SPJ members)
  • National and regional conferences
  • Career services and support

Costs:

  • To start a chapter: $25 charter application fee
  • Annual member dues: $37.50 for students
  • Honor cords: $15

GPA Requirements:

  • None, though individual chapters may set requirements