Constitution & Bylaws

Adopted July 14, 2006; latest version amended and adopted May 2026.

Constitution and Bylaws
Proposed Amendments
May 2026

PREAMBLE
In accordance with the scholarly, teaching, and professional interests of its founding members, an international learned society dedicated to the study of Literary Journalism was established in 2006. This constitution and its associated bylaws govern the ongoing mission, organization, and operations of the society.

ARTICLE 1: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the International Association for Literary Journalism Studies.

Section 2. The purpose of the organization shall be the improvement of scholarly research and education in Literary Journalism. To this end, members of the Association shall undertake the following objectives:

1. 1. To foster scholarly research and inquiry in the field of Literary Journalism and related areas.
   2. To enhance the subject matter of courses related to Literary Journalism and encourage the effectiveness of teaching at the level of higher education.
   3. To promote a sense of public service, professional responsibility and freedom among practitioners of Literary Journalism and those in academe.
   4. To stimulate close relationships between the researchers and teachers of these subjects and professional organizations and individuals.
   5. To encourage the adoption and practice of high standards for scholarship and teaching of these subjects, and an adequate system of rewards and assurances for researchers and teachers to support such standards.
   6. To increase the understanding and awareness among professional and academic personnel of the importance of Literary Journalism.
   7. To attract to the study of these subjects a growing number of able students.
   8. To plan a program to further the improvement of and the practice and advancement of Literary Journalism.

ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership shall be by individuals and by educational or professional organizations. Eligible individuals and organizations are those concerned principally with higher-education teaching and/or research in those areas listed in Article 1, Section 2, and those in professional activities related to these subject areas.

Section 2. Membership classifications, qualifications, dues, and privileges shall be defined in the bylaws.

Stage 2 Reform – This new section won’t go in yet. Instead, we will retain the original Article 3 on the website with the following change: “Section 4. The President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Research Chair shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Association, which shall be vested with the authority to govern the Association and to direct its affairs…

ARTICLE 4: DUES
Section 1. The officers shall have the right to apprise the need for operating funds, from time to time, and, upon ratification of such proposal by a simple majority of the membership voting at any annual meeting, to raise or lower annual dues as a requirement for membership in the Association.

ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings shall be held as prescribed in the bylaws.

ARTICLE 6: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This constitution and its bylaws may be amended by the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members participating in the annual meeting of the Association at which a proposed amendment or amendments is or are presented for action by the members.

Section 2. The President shall prepare and distribute the text of the proposed amendment or amendments at least two weeks before the meeting at which the amendment or amendments is or are presented for consideration and action.

ARTICLE 7: PROMULGATION
Section 1. This constitution and its bylaws attached shall become effective upon adoption by a two-thirds affirmative vote of those members voting.

ARTICLE 8: DISSOLUTION
Section 1. The organization may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting at any annual meeting. 

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1: FAIRNESS

The Association repudiates discrimination and harassment in all its activities and is committed to equal opportunity for all, regardless of matters including race, gender, sexuality, disability, age or religion.

ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Classification of membership: Regular members, who shall be faculty, staff, or student members of institutions engaged in Literary Journalism education at the tertiary (higher education) level, or persons in related professional activities who have an interest in Literary Journalism teaching and/or research. Institutional members may also be accepted if they are educational or professional organizations.

Section 2. Funds of the Association shall be deposited with the Association Treasurer, who will provide the facilities of their office for their accounting. Other funds will be deposited in appropriate separate accounts.

Section 3. A regular member is one whose dues are paid in advance of the annual meeting.

Section 4. Only regular members are entitled to voting rights.

ARTICLE 3: MEETINGS
Section 1. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at a time and place specified by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Association may be called and held in connection with any plan or activity designed to carry out the stated functions of the Association, upon concurrence of a quorum of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Decisions of the Association and its Executive Committee shall be by majority vote of members present and voting.

Section 4. At the discretion of the presiding officer, either Erskine May’s Parliamentary Procedure or Robert’s Rules of Order will be the manual for parliamentary procedure in meetings of the Association.

Section 5. Each regular member of the Association shall be entitled to one vote in elections, and to one vote on all issues or proposals presented at an annual or special meeting of the Association.

Section 6. Meetings of the Executive Committee will be held at least two times annually. The Executive Committee must meet at least once during the annual Conference. For the purposes of conducting business of the Association, the President may present propositions to the Executive Committee and/or poll its membership.

ARTICLE 4: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Elections shall be held every two years at the annual meeting. Only regular members of the Association shall be entitled to vote in the election.

Section 2. Elections are to be held online via secret ballot. The Secretary will send out a call for nominations to members electronically six weeks (42 days) before the annual conference. The ballot will open two weeks (14 days) before the date of the annual meeting and continue through the conference, closing on the day before the meeting.

Section 3. Members nominating for executive positions must have been in the Association for at least five years. Members can self-nominate for positions, but their applications must be counter-signed by another member of the Association who has been a member for at least five years.

Section 4. A candidate for office shall be deemed elected if they receive more votes than those cast for any other contender for the office.

Section 5. The Secretary shall inform members of the name of the winning candidates at the annual meeting immediately following the elections.

Section 6. Upon successful completion of an elected term of office as Vice-President, the holder of that office shall automatically succeed to, and possess all the rights and responsibilities of, the office of President. Their term as President will begin the day immediately following their election.

Stage 2 Reform – Pending the new Article 5 coming into effect in 2029 (see below), the existing Article 4, Section 1 will prevail, except for the words: “the elected member of the Nominating Committee”

ARTICLE 6: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President of the Association shall be the Executive Officer of the Association and shall administer its affairs, with the advice of the Executive Committee, including the appointment and/or dissolution of any necessary committees. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee, when present. They shall also preserve order, enforce the Constitution, and perform all duties of a presiding officer. All contracts entered into by the Association must be signed by both the President and the Treasurer.

Stage 2 Reform – Article 6 Section 2 will come in for 2029. However, in the meantime, the original Article 4 on Terms and Duties of Officers will remain in place except for these changes: “Section 6. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at an annual meeting to serve a term of two years, from the time of the election at the annual meeting until the time of election at the annual meeting two years hence. In the event any member of the at-large membership of the Executive Committee resigns or is unable to fulfill the functions of the office, the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting at which time an Association member shall be elected to serve the unexpired term.

Section 7. A quorum at a meeting at which all members of the Executive Committee have been invited to attend in person shall be three. For the purposes of conducting the Association’s business, the President may present propositions to the Executive Committee and poll all its members by email or phone. Such balloting shall constitute performance of the advisory function of the Executive Committee between annual meetings.

Section 3. The Secretary shall take and keep the minutes of the Association’s annual meeting, all Executive Committee meetings and any other Association records, as well as perform any other duties requested by the Association President. They will oversee the administration of the membership of the Association by maintaining an accurate, up-to-date, and secure database of all members (names, contact details and affiliation), processing new membership applications, overseeing the annual renewal process, and following up on unpaid dues. They will also assume the duties of electoral officer in conducting and overseeing the biennial elections and associated electoral processes.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall manage the financial affairs and records of the Association, as well as perform any other duties requested by the Association President. They will be assisted in these duties by the Associate Treasurer.

Section 5. The Research Chair will oversee all the Association’s research-related matters including the planning of the Association’s annual conference, the planning of the Association’s panels and contributions at other conferences, and the awarding of prizes by the Association. They will be assisted by the Associate Research Chair.

Section 6. If any member of the Executive Committee resigns or is unable to fulfill the functions of the office, the Executive Committee shall appoint an Association member of at least 5 years standing to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting at which an election for the position is held.

Section 7. Any member of the Executive Committee who does not attend the Association convention may be removed from office upon a recommendation by the President and a majority vote of the members attending the annual meeting. Once a position is declared vacant, the members will elect another Association member to fill that unexpired term.

ARTICLE 7: COMMITTEES

Section 1. The committees assisting the Executive Committee may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • Finance Committee: Answerable to the Treasurer
  • Research and Program Committee: Answerable to the Research Chair
  • Awards Committee: Answerable to the Research Chair

• • Communications and Outreach Committee: Answerable to the Vice-President
  • Graduate Student Committee: Answerable to the Vice-President
  • Latin American Organizing Committee: Answerable to the Vice-President

Section 2. The President with the advice of the Executive Committee may constitute or dissolve committees, including those listed in Article 7 Section1, as they deem necessary.

Section 3. Each Committee will be represented by a Chair. Chairs can appoint members to their committees with the consultation of the President and/or the Vice-President.

Section 4. The duties of each Committee will be determined by consultation between the Committee Chair and the Officer to whom the Chair is answerable.

ARTICLE 8: ADVISORY BOARD

Section 1. The Advisory Board will be constituted by at least five and no more than nine members. Members of the Advisory Board must be members of the Association of at least 5 years standing and currently affiliated with a university or tertiary education institution. Institutions cannot be Advisory Board members.

Section 2. The Executive Committee, through the President and/or the Vice-President, can seek the advice of the Advisory Board on matters pertaining to the governance of the Association.

Section 3. Members of the Advisory Board may self-nominate or may be nominated by any member of the Association of at least 5 years standing. An Advisory Board member will be confirmed in office by a majority vote at any meeting of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The Executive Committee will take account of diversity in all Advisory Board appointments seeking a board that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to enhance its governance and decision‑making.

Section 5. The Executive Committee will consider the prior service of the nominee to the Association when making an appointment to the Advisory Board.

 Section 6. Advisory Board members will serve for four years and be eligible to succeed themselves in office if a majority of the Executive Committee approves their continued appointment.

Section 7. The Advisory Board will be led by a Chair who shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee and members of the Advisory Board.

Section 8. The Advisory Board will meet every six months. The President and/or the Vice-President will report to the Advisory Board meetings on the governance of the Association. A quorum for meetings of the Advisory Board will be three members.

Section 9. The Chair of the Advisory Board or nominee will attend and report to the Executive Committee meetings about the activities of the Board in the preceding period. The Chair will advise the President when a member of the Advisory Board is within six months of the end of their term in office.

ARTICLE 9: GOVERNANCE COMPLAINTS

Section 1. Any member of the Association can refer a governance issue or complaint to the Chair of the Advisory Board at any time for consideration by the Advisory Board and/or propose a vote of ‘no confidence’ at the annual meeting of the Association for consideration by the membership.

Section 2. The members may express their loss of confidence in an office holder by the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Association’s members participating in an annual meeting of the Association.

Section 3. An office holder may be suspended temporarily or permanently from performing some or all of their duties by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Advisory Board if:

1. 1. They have lost the confidence of the Association as described in Section 2, or
   2. A serious allegation of misconduct is made against them and the Advisory Board, after due investigation, has documented evidence that: a) the alleged conduct, if proven, would justify permanent removal of the office holder, and b) that it is in the best interests of the Association to suspend the office holder while the matter is investigated, for example to protect members, staff, volunteers or the reputation of the Association.

For the purposes of this section, ‘serious misconduct’ could be constituted by, but is not limited to, gross neglect of duties, corrupt or seriously dishonest conduct such as theft or fraud, violent behaviour or behaviour that puts the safety of others at risk, sustained harassment or discrimination, and/or the misuse of office for personal gain.

Section 4. When a vote of ‘no confidence’ or an allegation of serious misconduct is proposed against an office holder, that person must receive:

1. 1. four weeks’ notice in writing before the relevant meeting of the Association or Advisory Board of the reasons for the proposed vote of ‘no confidence’ and/or vote of temporary or permanent removal, as well as the documented evidence underpinning those reasons, and
   2. an invitation to address the relevant meeting and respond to the allegations before the matter can be put to the vote for decision.