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ARAB AND MIDDLE EASTERN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 562605694 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE A33 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · ameja.org
revenue
$77K
expenses
$25K
net assets
$144K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Through mentorship, community, and advocacy, AMEJA strengthens fair, accurate, nuanced coverage and helps journalists build more connected, durable careers in U.S. media. Fostering curiosity and learning by supporting pathways into journalism for students and emerging professionals. Objective is to recognize and financially support excellence in journalism covering Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and West Asian communities, and emphasize journalism that demonstrates AMEJA's values, including increased visibility for underrepresented journalists, and strengthening our network and community.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) supports journalists covering Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and West Asian communities through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building. It promotes fair, accurate, and nuanced media representation while advancing pathways for emerging journalists from underrepresented backgrounds. AMEJA emphasizes excellence in journalism and strengthens networks within U.S. media.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Journalism Fellowship
Supports excellence in journalism covering Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and West Asian communities through financial awards and professional recognition
Media Resource Guide
Provides journalists with context, language guidance, and ethical frameworks for accurate reporting on Palestine and Israel, including historical background, legal standards, and source verification practices
Mentorship Program
Connects emerging journalists from Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds with experienced media professionals for career development and support
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Geopolitical Media Analysis and Reporting 3 activities
    • Advocacy statements on media standards and press freedom
      Issues public advocacy statements to promote higher standards in media coverage, challenge harmful narratives, and support press freedom, particularly in relation to Arab and Middle Eastern communities and journalists operating in conflict zones.
    • Media guidance on responsible reporting about Islamophobia
      Develops and disseminates guidance for responsible media coverage of Islamophobia in political contexts, including analysis and recommendations to counter misinformation and harmful narratives.
    • Production of reporting guides and media resource tools
      Develops, maintains, and distributes living reporting guides and newsroom tools to support accurate, ethical, and contextualized coverage of Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and West Asian communities. Topics include Iran, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel, and Islamophobia, created in consultation with journalists and regional experts.
  • Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Annual journalism awards program with financial support
      Recognizes excellence in journalism focused on Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and West Asian communities through an annual awards program that includes public recognition and financial support for awardees.
  • Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
    • Fee-waived membership for journalists in financial hardship
      Offers fee-waived membership to overseas-based MENA journalists facing financial hardship, increasing access to organizational resources and support networks.
  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
    • Mentorship and professional development for journalists
      Provides mentorship, career development support, and professional networking opportunities for early-career and emerging journalists, including skill-building, job leads, and introductions to newsrooms. Pairs members with experienced editors and peers to advance career opportunities.
  • Open Research Infrastructure & Publishing 1 activity
    • Peer and community support networks for journalists
      Facilitates peer-to-peer exchange among journalists through sharing of source lists, feedback, job leads, and professional introductions. Hosts events and workshops to build community and support among members with shared professional experiences.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Public recognition of specific journalistic works and awardees
      Highlights and honors specific journalistic works and individuals through public recognition, including award announcements for categories such as Best Audio Journalism, Emerging Voices, and the Walid El-Gabry Memorial Award.
  • Support for Investigative and Independent Journalism 1 activity
    • Source referral and media assistance for journalists
      Provides direct support to journalists by connecting them with qualified sources from Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities to improve accuracy and representation in reporting.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Research and documentation on media coverage and journalist safety
      Conducts research to document patterns in media coverage, including Islamophobic rhetoric, and compiles data on violence against journalists. Produces fact sheets and analyses using inputs from CPJ, RSF, and the United Nations, including a documented count of 176 journalist fatalities between 2023 and 2025.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$77K
Contributions & grants$82K107%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$25K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$7K
balance sheet
Total assets$144K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$144K
1 years on record · 2025–2025
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • Aida Alami — Director
  • Artemis Moshtaghian — Director
  • Jeanine Ibrahim — Director
  • Jenny Hijazi — Director
  • Leyla Doss — Director
  • Mahdis Keshavarz — Director
  • Sara Aridi — Director
relationships · 24

Who they work with

  • Amnesty International Partner — Cited as a source confirming that Israeli rule amounts to apartheid, used to inform reporting standards in the guide.
  • B’Tselem Partner — Cited as a source confirming that Israeli rule amounts to apartheid, used to inform reporting standards in the guide.
  • CNN Partner — Recognized CNN journalists for award-winning audio journalism on Gaza.
  • Committee to Protect Journalists Partner — Collaborates with CPJ in calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza.
  • Freedom of the Press Foundation Partner — Joins with the Freedom of the Press Foundation in calling for urgent protection of journalists in Gaza.
  • Human Rights Watch Partner — Cited as a source confirming that Israeli rule amounts to apartheid, used to inform reporting standards in the guide.
  • Institute for Palestine Studies Partner — Recognized a journalist contributor to the Institute for Palestine Studies for a portfolio submission.
  • International Association of Genocide Scholars Partner — Cited for adopting a resolution concluding Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide, used to support attribution practices in reporting.
  • International Atomic Energy Agency Network — Relies on IAEA assessments for independent, verified data on Iran's nuclear program.
  • International Crisis Group Partner — Lists International Crisis Group as a recommended source for analysis and expert context on Lebanon.
  • NBC News Partner — Recognized reporting by an NBC News journalist on Palestinian narratives.
  • Palestine Square Partner — Recognized a journalist contributor to Palestine Square for a portfolio submission.
  • Prism Partner — Recognized a journalist contributor to Prism for a portfolio submission.
  • Recognized global outlets Network — Full membership is available to journalists working for recognized global outlets, indicating affiliation with international media organizations.
  • Reporters Sans Frontières Partner — Collaborates with RSF in calling for the protection of journalists in Gaza.
  • The Nation Partner — Recognized a journalist contributor to The Nation for a portfolio submission.
  • The New Arab Partner — Recognized a journalist contributor to The New Arab for a portfolio submission.
  • U.N. Commission of Inquiry Partner — Cited for its conclusion that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, used to support attribution practices in reporting.
  • U.N. agencies Partner — Relied upon for verification of Gaza’s Health Ministry data and humanitarian assessments, referenced to support credible sourcing in journalism.
  • United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Government — References UNIFIL as a source for documenting ceasefire violations and providing situational updates in southern Lebanon.
  • WhatsApp Partner — Uses WhatsApp to maintain member communication through a group for journalists.
  • Zeteo Partner — Recognized reporting by a journalist from Zeteo on student protesters targeted by the Trump administration.
  • Zohran Mamdani Coalition — Referenced in connection with political developments involving Islamophobic rhetoric; AMEJA analyzes media coverage related to his campaign.
  • press@ameja.org Partner — Contact point for press inquiries related to AMEJA's public statements.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Contextualized and Ethical Reporting Framework
    methodology: contextualized_reporting
    By providing practical frameworks for precision, historical context, and ethical language, the organization improves the accuracy and humanization of media coverage on complex Middle Eastern issues, because structured guidance reduces reductive narratives and supports truth-conveying journalism in conflict zones.
  • Learning and Curiosity-Driven Pathways for Emerging Journalists
    methodology: learning-pathways
    By supporting entry into journalism through learning and curiosity-driven programming, the organization expands access to the field for students and emerging professionals, because low-barrier, interest-based pathways diversify the pipeline and strengthen long-term representation.
  • Peer Mentorship and Collective Advocacy for Equitable Representation
    methodology: peer_network_mentorship
    By building peer networks and mentorship among Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and Southwest Asian journalists, the organization improves media representation and coverage quality, because community-led journalism produces more accurate, nuanced, and contextually grounded reporting.
  • Public and Institutional Advocacy for Press Freedom and Journalistic Integrity
    methodology: public_advocacy
    By issuing public statements and advocating for fair coverage—especially regarding Gaza and Palestinian journalists—the organization strengthens press freedom and media accountability, because institutional advocacy elevates ethical standards and protects journalists in high-risk environments.
  • Recognition of Excellence to Elevate Rigorous Storytelling
    methodology: recognition-of-excellence
    By highlighting high-quality journalism through an annual awards program, the organization promotes rigorous, nuanced narratives across career stages, because public recognition reinforces professional standards and incentivizes ethical, in-depth reporting on Arab and Middle Eastern communities.