General Membership
Chartered in 1946, FOWA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) statewide paid professional communicators organization made up of outdoor communicators who report and reflect upon Florida’s diverse interests in the outdoors to educate and encourage the public in ways to protect and conserve our natural heritage. Members cover a variety of outdoor topics including, fishing, hunting, boating, conservation, and all aspects of the environment. They are freelance writers, book authors, columnists, publishers, editors, broadcasters in radio and television, photographers, videographers, artists, illustrators, Web site designers, writers, editors, public information officers and public relations professionals.
You’re invited to apply for membership in the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. If you qualify, you'll be eligible for many benefits, including:
• Bi-monthly E-newsletter, The Market Edge
• Instant email updates on issues affecting Floridians who enjoy the outdoors
• FOWA press card
• FOWA membership directory
• Opportunity to attend FOWA’s Annual Conferences
• Opportunity to gain new media contacts
• Voting on FOWA matters
• Entering FOWA's annual Excellence-in-Craft Awards for prizes & recognition
• Discounts on merchandise and services from FOWA Supporting and Corporate Members
• Involvement in the growth of FOWA
FOWA is composed of outdoor communicators from all media, including representatives from Sport Fishing Magazine, Salt Water Sportsman, Florida Game & Fish, Florida Sportsman Magazine, Florida Fishing Weekly, the Miami Herald, the Tampa Tribune, the St. Petersburg Times, the Lakeland Ledger, as well as radio & TV fishing hosts (including ESPN, TNN, OLC, Sunshine), Web site publishers, book publishers, and game & fish researchers.
FOWA also boasts some of the most prominent Corporate Members in the industry, including Ande, 3M/Scientific Anglers, Bass Pro Shops, Benelli, Browning, Bushnell, Cabela’s, Canon, Castalia Outdoors, Coleman, Culprit, Daiwa, D.O.A. Lures, G. Loomis, Leupold, Mustad, Plano, PRADCO, Pure Fishing (Berkley/Mitchell/Garcia), Remington, Shimano, Winchester, and Zebco. Important conservation groups such as CCA, and IGFA are active Corporate Members. Many of Florida's Tourism Development entities are also members, including Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB, Florida Keys & Key West, Visit Jacksonville and Visit Tallahassee.
Since 1946, FOWA has been a gathering place for outdoor communicators and those with products and services of interest to them. Bringing like-minded people together for networking and mutual benefit is what FOWA is all about.
See our "DOWNLOAD FOWA FORMS" section on this page for an application to join.
Good tides,
Tommy Thompson
Executive Director
