Being a National Press Photographer Association member is an important step in an aspiring photojournalist's, amateur or professional, career.

Since its start in 1946 the NPPA has continued to set itself from other organizations. The NPPA is world-renowned for its expertise, professionalism and ethics. Photojournalism is an ever-changing medium and the NPPA is always looking for more faces to help shape the changing face of the ever-evolving profession.

Your NPPA Membership will give you the opportunity to meet, network with, and learn from many of the top visual journalists in the field today.

This chapter has been officially approved by the NPPA. Anyone from Western is welcome to join. Check it out at the official NPPA Web site.

The details:
» Code of Ethics
» Bylaws

The National Press Photographers Association was founded in 1946. In the first issue of National Press Photographer (published in Boston, Mass. in April 1946), an editorial on the front page proclaimed, "With this issue is born a voice, one that has been mute much too long."

"We're no longer going to permit ourselves to be relegated to the position of unwelcome, but necessary, stepchildren of the Fourth Estate. We've got a voice, finally, and we're going to make use of it. No false modesty. No muffling of that voice under a barrel. We're going to yell so loud -- when the occasion demands, and not just for the fun of hearing ourselves shout -- that those in this country who have been injuring us with scant courtesy will begin to realize that here is a new force to be reckoned with."

In the early years, the struggles included trying to get cameras allowed into the courtrooms and to improve government/media relations. In fact, many of the programs that NPPA has today including the "job bureau" as it was then called, an insurance program, "The Complete Book of Press Photography" and programs for "newsreel cameramen" had their start back in the late 1940s.

Regional membership in NPPA is open to professional news photographers and all others whose occupation has a direct professional relationship with photojournalism. All members receive a monthly copy of News Photographer magazine, The Best of Photojournalism Yearbook and 2 Volume Television Winners' DVD, regional publications, access to the Job Information Bank, discounts on all NPPA programs and eligibility to enter all NPPA contests.

The Western chapter has some contests of their own, but here’s a list of contests pulled from www.nppa.org.

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International Yearly Contests:

The NPPA holds several large-scale international photojournalism contests. These contests are all open to both members and non-members of NPPA.

Best of Photojournalism 2007

Designed by photojournalists for photojournalists, the Best of Photojournalism (BOP) contest attracts tens of thousands of entries each year.

BOP is open to Still and TV photojournalists, Still Photo Editors, TV Editors, and Web Editors from around the world. There is no fee and you do not need to be an NPPA member to enter.

NPPA/Nikon Documentary Sabbatical Grant

The NPPA/Nikon Documentary Sabbatical Grant is currently on hold, but will return for 2008.

The $15,000 grant enables a working photojournalist to take a three month leave of absence to pursue a documentary project illuminating "The Changing Face of America," unencumbered by daily assignments.

Women in Photojournalism Contest

Members and non-members alike can enter the Women in Photojournalism Contest as well. Full instructions are available at the Workshop Website.

Monthly and Quarterly Contests:

The NPPA also has a number of contests that run on a monthly or quarterly basis. Most of these contests are limited to NPPA members who were paid-up as of the period covered by the contest.

NEW: the quarterly Cutting Edge TV editing contest is now open to everyone (subject to an entry fee).

Quarterly Clip Contests:

The NPPA holds Quarterly Clip Contests for Photo Editors, TV Photographers, TV Editors, and Photojournalism Students.

Winning entries earn the photojournalist points towards the appropriate Photographer of the Year awards.

Monthly Clip Contest

Still Photojournalists may also enter published work in the regional Monthly News Clip Contest.

Winning entries are also put in the running for the monthly National competition, and earn the journalist points towards the regional Photographer of the Year award.

Monthly Multimedia Contest

Photojournalists who produce multimedia for the web may enter the peer-judged Monthly Multimedia Contest, beginning in November 2006.