International Association of Independent Journalists Inc.
 IAIJ Logo | |
| Founded | 2003 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Founder | Maurice Ali |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Focus | Journalism |
| Location | |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Method | lobbying, research |
| Website | www.iaij.org |
The International Association of Independent Journalists Inc. (IAIJ) is a registered not-for-profit journalist association with offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. The association is international and caters to amateur (citizen journalists) and professional journalists with advocacy and support services worldwide.
History
The International Association of Independent Journalists was created in October 2003 by Maurice Ali who was a journalist and writer living in Toronto, Canada. In his book "Protest!: The Fall of Civil Disobedience,"[1] Maurice Ali noted the emergence of the "citizen journalist" and that the journalist community should be more inclusive of all types of journalists, and this same sentiment became the basis for IAIJ's constitution when incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on February 12, 2008 (Letters Patent file number: 446727-2).[2] This constitution of inclusion followed most closely, the policies and mandates of the U.N./UNESCO derived from Article 19 of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The association grew over the years, gained a second office in London, England; and on June 11, 2011 the association became an "Institutional Member" of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO which is located in Ottawa, Canada. On July 25, 2016 IAIJ attained Consultative Status at the United Nations.
Operations
Membership of the association is in the hundreds with a Board of Directors. A general meeting is held each year at the head office in Toronto on February 12. Membership is international and support and services are dispatched through offices in Toronto, Canada, and London, England. The association has a diploma program for self-improvement and also provides editorial material for a newspaper called "The Fortress."[3]
Advocacy
The association through its President (Maurice Ali) and the membership have participated in advocacy by published studies and articles on citizen journalism, attended and spoken at UNESCO[4] and United Nations events[5][6] as advocates of citizen journalism worldwide.
Awards
The International Association of Independent Journalists Inc. has an award called the "IAIJ Award for Journalism" and is presented to journalists who have distinguished themselves in news gathering and investigative reporting.
References
- ^ "'Protest!: The Fall Of Civil Disobedience'". Fortress Of Freedom Inc. 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2011. ISBN 0-9736335-0-6 (Pages 195-207).
- ^ "'Canada Gazette'". Government Of Canada. April 26, 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2011. - Government Notices, Volume 142, No. 17.
- ^ "'The Fortress". Fortress Of Freedom Inc. April 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2011. ISSN 1923-9858.
- ^ "'Citizen Journalism'" (PDF). UNESCO. February 27, 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "'WSIS+10 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting'". United Nations. July 2, 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "'Maurice Ali Speech: International Association of Independent Journalists Inc. WSIS+10-United Nations-July 2, 2015'" (PDF). United Nations. July 2, 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2016.