Student Chapters

Why You Should Start/Become a Member of an RTNDA Student Chapter

The Radio-Television News Directors Association has student chapters at 41 colleges and universities. Founded in 1987, RTNDA's Student Chapter Affiliate Program fosters closer cooperation and improves communication among students, educators and working professionals in radio, television and online news. It also gives student members special learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom and instills a commitment to the highest ideals and principles of the practice of electronic journalism.

Here are some of the benefits students and educators receive:

Communicator: Each RTNDA member receives Communicator, RTNDA’s award-winning monthly magazine. Stories in Communicator make great topics for discussion in class or at chapter meetings.

Power Producer: A Practical Guide to TV News Producing: Already being used in many college classrooms as a textbook, Power Producer is easy to read and has a lesson plan in each chapter. RTNDA student members buy it at a discount, and educators and libraries get bulk discounts if they order 10 or more copies.  The 4th edition has just been published!

Keeping It Legal: A Media Law Handbook for the Newsroom: A great resource for journalism educators and students, Keeping It Legal includes chapters on the following topics: Media Access, Cameras in the Courts, Confidential Sources, Copyright, Labor Law, Ethics and Standards, FCC Rules and Regulations, FOIA, Internet Law, Libel, Privacy and Subpoenas, plus a glossary of legal terms, a reference list, and much more.  Member discounts and bulk discounts apply.

Scholarships: Students are eligible for many different scholarships including the Ed Bradley, Ken Kashiwahara and Carole Simpson scholarships. Winners not only get a cash award and a free trip to RTNDA@NAB, they are paired with a mentor from the RTNDA board. You can learn more  by visiting http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/scholarships-for-undergraduate-students524.php.

Campus Connections:  Students share their ideas, get to know each other, and see what RTNDA has in store for the coming months in this quarterly newsletter for RTNDA student members.

RTNDA@NAB:  RTNDA’s annual conference and exhibition brings our workshops and training sessions to one location. We have sessions on ethics, reporting, writing, producing, decision-making, videography and more. RTNDA co-sponsors a huge Career Fair with special hours for students. The premier conference and exhibition for radio and television news is coming up April 23-26, 2006, in Las Vegas.   RTNDA student members can also volunteer at RTNDA@NAB and receive their registration for free!

Networking Opportunities:  Whether it’s RTNDA@NAB, the Edward R. Murrow Awards Dinner, a regional workshop or roundtable discussion, there are countless opportunities to network with the other 3,000 RTNDA members.  You can find your first job, mentor or just get a sense of what the hot button issues are in the electronic journalism world. 

Radio-Television News Directors Association
1600 K Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
800.80.RTNDA