UK Journalism Communities & Networks

The main trade union for journalists and media workers in the UK and Ireland, founded in 1907. Represents members on pay, contracts, conditions, ethics and press freedom, and issues the UK Press Card.

Joining: Open to working journalists and media/communications workers; grades include student and freelance.

The oldest professional association of journalists in the world (founded 1884, Royal Charter 1890) — a UK professional body and trade union for working journalists.

A UK non-political trade union for journalists and editorial workers, providing legal support, representation and UK Press Card access.

Joining: Open to journalists and editorial workers; paid membership tiers with legal services and Press Card applications.

Industry body for editors and senior editorial figures across UK national, regional and local press, broadcast and digital media, campaigning on press freedom and media ethics.

Joining: Aimed at editors and senior editorial figures, plus media lawyers and journalism academics.

The trade association representing national, regional and local news publishers in the UK, campaigning on press freedom, local-journalism sustainability, and AI/copyright.

Joining: Membership is for news media publishing companies.

The trade body representing Scotland's newspaper and news-brand publishers, from independent titles to Scottish editions of UK nationals. Runs the Scottish Press Awards. Renamed from the Scottish Newspaper Society in 2023.

Joining: Membership is for Scottish news publishers, large and small.

The largest branch of the NUJ, run by and for freelance journalists — a long-running hub of practical guidance on rates, contracts, copyright and chasing late payment.

Joining: For NUJ freelance members (join the union to take part).

Directory of professional freelance journalists published by the NUJ since 1974, helping commissioners find vetted freelances across the UK and internationally.

Joining: Listings are free to NUJ members.

A UK nonprofit offering journalism jobs, transparent salary and freelance-rate databases, pitching guides, mentoring and career advice for aspiring and working journalists.

A UK freelance-journalism community, podcast, workshops and book founded by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, with a well-known members' group and resources on pitching, rates and building a freelance career.

A London-based non-profit investigative newsroom whose Bureau Local network collaborates with local reporters and communities on accountability journalism across the UK.

Joining: Bureau Local is a collaborative network local journalists, technologists and community members can join.

A UK charity supporting investigative reporting, best known for its annual Summer Conference of hands-on training in investigative and OSINT methods.

Joining: Open annual training conference and courses (booking-based rather than membership).

The open-source investigation collective that pioneered many OSINT techniques, with a large community of contributors and volunteers and a strong UK base.

Joining: Free to follow; runs workshops and offers volunteer/contributor opportunities.

A global grassroots network bringing journalists and technologists together; London was one of its earliest chapters, with continuing UK meetups on data journalism, OSINT and news tech.

Joining: Free local chapter meetups — anyone interested in journalism and technology can attend.

A London-based organisation that trains reporters to follow the money, runs an alumni helpdesk, and reports on corruption, tax abuse and kleptocracy.

Joining: Trained reporters join an alumni network with ongoing helpdesk support.

An independent Scottish investigative journalism co-operative producing investigations, fact checks and long reads, funded and part-owned by its readers.

Joining: Reader-supported co-operative — subscribe or become a member.

A pioneering member-owned investigative local-news co-operative in Bristol, producing accountability investigations, features, podcasts and a print edition.

Joining: Owned by thousands of Bristol members — anyone can join as a member/owner.

A UK-based independent, reader-funded outlet with a dedicated investigations unit reporting on power, accountability, tech harms and rights.

Joining: Free to read; reader-funded through donations and subscriptions.

A UK networking, training and campaigning organisation supporting women across the journalism industry, running events and a well-known mentoring scheme.

Joining: Membership organisation; annual mentoring scheme (registration usually opens around November).

A UK community founded in 2018 by Hannah Ajala, connecting and supporting established and aspiring Black journalists, storytellers and media professionals.

Joining: Community membership with monthly calls, events, mentorship, workshops and a job board.

A London-founded NGO that works with media to encourage accurate, nuanced reporting on race, religion, ethnicity, class, disability, gender and sexual identity.

A UK charity that mentors and trains early-career journalists, prioritising those entering the profession without privilege, to make newsrooms more representative.

Joining: Free 12-month mentoring for early-career journalists; applications typically open 1 September.

An NCTJ-run fund awarding bursaries to people from diverse and under-represented backgrounds to fund their NCTJ journalism training, with journalist mentorship.

Joining: Bursaries for trainees; applicants must first secure a place on an NCTJ-accredited course.

A charity providing practical, safety and financial support to freelance news journalists worldwide via its Crisis Fund and training funds, including UK support for journalists-in-exile.

Joining: Runs grants (Crisis Fund, training) for active freelance news journalists.

A UK and Ireland welfare charity (founded 1864) providing confidential advice, wellbeing support and financial assistance to journalists and their dependants in need.

Joining: Not a membership body — a source of support for journalists facing hardship.

The UK representative body for independent community and hyperlocal news outlets, run by Cardiff University's Centre for Community Journalism, giving the sector a unified voice across all four nations.

Joining: Open to independent community/hyperlocal publishers adhering to the IPSO or Impress codes (120+ members).

A UK charity working to regenerate independent and local public-interest journalism through funding, campaigning and research, including the Local News Fund.

Joining: Not a membership body; channels funding and support to independent local news providers.

The largest student-media association in the UK and Republic of Ireland, supporting, training and showcasing student newspapers, magazines and websites through events, awards and advocacy.

Joining: Open to student publications (250+ members) plus individual members.

The organisation representing 300+ newspaper, wire, radio, TV and internet journalists accredited to work at Westminster; its membership includes the Parliamentary Lobby.

Joining: Accreditation-based; open to journalists holding a Westminster press pass.

The professional body representing 900+ football journalists in England, best known for electing the Footballer of the Year (since 1948) and campaigning on press access.

Joining: Full and Student membership tiers for working football journalists.

The UK's main association for sports journalists (founded 1948), representing the British sports media and running the British Sports Journalism Awards.

Joining: Full, Associate and SJA Academy membership tiers.

The UK professional association for medical, health and pharmaceutical journalists and clinicians who write for the public; runs the annual MJA Awards.

Joining: For medical/health journalists, writers, editors and contributing healthcare professionals.

A national, independent membership organisation representing many of Britain's leading health writers and journalists, offering events, networking and development.

Joining: Open to those whose main work is producing health content.

A community of 200+ accredited travel writers, photographers, authors, bloggers and broadcasters — the UK's trusted body for editorial travel comment since 1960.

Joining: Accredited membership for professional travel writers, photographers and broadcasters.

The UK society for science writers, journalists and communicators (founded 1947); administers the ABSW Science Writing Awards and provides events and mentoring.

Joining: Membership society for science writers, journalists and communicators.