OWO Membership Application

To qualify for membership, supporting material need not all be in one category, but the total submitted must be judged by the OWO membership com- mittee to be the equivalent of full qualification in any one category.

A. Newspaper Writer, Columnist, Editor or Designer – Submit sample tearsheets or photocopies of five articles published in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter from supervisor or webmaster certifying your published work) if bylines aren’t given. Include dates of publication, copy of newspaper masthead and/or Website addresses. Syndicated or reprinted articles count as a single submission. Long features will be given additional consideration.

B. Still Photographer – Submit sample tearsheets or photocopies of six photos published in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter from editor or webmaster certifying your published work) if credits aren’t given. Include dates and names of publications and/or Website addresses. Works requiring unusual effort will be given additional consideration. Unpublished photos that are sold may be considered with proof of sale.

C. Illustrator, Cartoonist or Artist – Submit sample tearsheets or photocopies of three full-color or black-and-white works, published in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter from editor or webmaster certifying your published work) if credits aren’t given. Include dates and names of publications, and or Website addresses. Brochures and catalogs are not acceptable. Unpublished works that are sold may be considered with proof of sale.

D. Magazine Full-Time Editorial Staff Member – Submit one sample copy of printed magazine, or sample pages from online magazine, showing masthead listings. Include pertinent Website addresses. Magazine must have a bona fide paid circulation, be available for sale at newsstands or similar outlets or be published online at a commercial site. No period of tenure is required.

E. Magazine Freelance Writer, Editor, Publisher or Designer – Submit six sample tearsheets or photocopies of work published in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter from editor certifying your published work) if credits aren’t given. Include dates and names of publications and/ or Website addresses. Fillers, briefs and short articles count for half credit. Syndicated or reprinted articles count as one submission.

F. Website Content Director, Blogger, Social Media Influencer, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist or Designer – Submit credentials from any single category or combination of categories listed above. Include publication dates, names and Website addresses.

G. Film-Video-Audio Editor, Photographer, Scriptwriter, Director, or Producer – Submit one sample copy of a film, video or audio production produced in the past 12 months. Include any brochures, newspaper or magazine clips, or other announcements of your work. Also include pertinent Web site addresses.

H. Broadcast (Television-Radio-Podcast) Photographer, Scriptwriter, Editor, Director or Producer – Submit a sample copy of one completed show produced in the past 12 months. Include official letter from station manager certifying your work, along with your production schedule for the past year and pertinent Web site addresses or Streaming Service. Guest appearances do not count.

I. Book Author, Editor, Designer or Publisher – Submit one sample copy of a book produced in the past 12 months. A signed publishing contract for a book in progress counts as a published book. Works requiring unusual effort will be given additional consideration. Several booklets may be substituted for a single book, but promotional booklets for commercial enterprises are not acceptable. Multi-authorship will be equally prorated among all authors.

J. Lecturer – Submit itinerary including dates and estimated attendances of 4 appearances in the past 12 months. Include sample copies of brochures, newspaper clips or other promotional materials and/or Website addresses.

K. Educator or Instructor – Submit proof (official letter from employer) verifying instruction of at least one quarter- or semester-length course at an institute of higher learning, or six one-day courses for the general public, or four-weekend courses for the general public, in the past 12 months.`

L. Information Employee or Volunteer of Non-profit Conservation or Recreation Agency – Submit credentials from any category or combination of categories listed above (it is understood that non-profit publications may not have bona fide paid circulations; audiences may not be paying viewers, etc.). Alternatively, applicants may submit samples of press releases or media materials distributed in the past 12 months. Include proof (official letter certifying your published work, involvement or supervisory responsibilities) if credits aren’t given. Include pertinent Website addresses.

M. Employee of Outdoor-Related Industries, Agencies, Associations or Organizations (engaged in producing informative and educational materi- al for use by the media) – Submit credentials from any single or combination of categories listed above, along with pertinent Website addresses.

N. Associate Membership-This membership tier is a non-voting membership for individuals that are passionate about OWO’s mission and would like to identify with and support Outdoor Writers of Ohio. Examples of these supporters could be individual heads of governmental agencies, corporations, grassroots conservation organizations, news broadcasters, philanthropists, or the public in general.

O. Student Membership- Applicant will be a full or part-time student in high school or college. Writer, editor, photographer, graphic designer, illus- trator for school newspapers, and publications. Submit copies of work and official letter certifying your published work. College students may also be pursuing journalism or conservation degrees. This membership’s purpose is to encourage and mentor young people’s journalism interests. OWO scholarship winners qualify for Student Membership for as long as they are a student. Student membership is a non-voting membership.