For more than 70 years, the Illinois News Broadcasters Association has been a strong voice for professional and student broadcast journalists in Illinois. Times have changed, but generations later, INBA’s mission remains the same.
Founded in 1955 by news professionals from across the state, INBA continues to take an active role in educating, defending, and promoting fellowship among those in our industry. INBA also plays an important role in preparing the next generation of electronic journalists for this complex and ever-changing business.
Please consider joining INBA today to help us carry out our mission to support and educate journalists throughout the state. Membership is affordable — just $35 a year for active or retired journalists. Discounts available for multiple members from the same newsroom.
Your support of INBA enables the organization to continue offering its members many benefits. Here are a few of them:
SUPPORT
- INBA, with assistance from the Illinois Broadcasters Association, funds the free-to-members FOIA/OMA hotline. Members may call Springfield attorney Don Craven for advice on Freedom of Information Act or Open Meetings Act issues.
- We offer financial support to professional members seeking to travel to industry conferences.
- We track and, when necessary, stand up and speak out against FOIA and OMA violations.
- We monitor legislation that affects our industry and speak out for or against as necessary.
- Find your next newsroom with The JobFile, updated monthly.
- Professionals in INBA offer mentoring and critique services to students.
CELEBRATE
- We honor the best professional journalism in the state with the annual Crystal Mic Awards.
- We honor the best student journalism in the state with the annual SINBA Awards.
- We honor the state’s top student journalists with our annual scholarship program, supported by the Illinois Press Foundation. The program has awarded more than 200 scholarships totaling more than $200,000 since 1963.
- We honor exemplary achievements in and contributions to journalism in Illinois with the Illinoisan of the Year award, given annually since 1959.
- All of these awards are celebrated at our annual Best of Broadcast Awards event, held each year in the spring.
EDUCATE
- We host in-person and online educational sessions and podcasts with seasoned journalists and other professionals to help journalists understand important issues and do their jobs better.
- You’ll make fewer mistakes with our Pronunciation Guide to Illinois Place Names.
- Professionals in INBA offer mentoring and critique services to students.
- INBA established a 12-point Code of Ethics as guidance for all members.
INFORM
- A monthly newsletter, tuneIN, which includes updates on INBA activities, industry news, and alerts about critical issues affecting broadcast journalists in Illinois.