Corporate Sponsors
NORTH AMERICAN SNOWSPORTS JOURNALISTS ASSN. -WEST REGION
CODE OF ETHICS
NASJA is an Association of professional writers, videographers, filmmakers, photographers and broadcasters whose primary purpose is to report and comment on the news of snowsports. It is not the purpose of this Association to promote various segments of the snowsports industry.
General Statements
A. Products or courtesies extended by the snowsports industry are strictly at the discretion of the industry, and the industry has the right to decline extending media courtesies. Membership in NASJA carries no automatic entitlements.
B. Any member requesting courtesies should be prepared to reveal the nature of any actual or potential assignment, and the intended media outlet, or outlets, along with the name and phone number of the assigning editor.
C. Members are expected/encouraged to give advance notice of any visit to a recreation or resort area, and at the same time should inquire about that area’s media policy.
D. Members should make special story requirements in advance.
E. Members should offer to pay for any guests, including spouse and/or children.
F.  Members should act in a professional and business-like manner at all times during the course of their visit to a snowsports area.
G. When accepting complimentary air fare, members should check with the airline regarding the required attire during the flight.
Active Member Guidelines - Acceptable Conduct
A. To accept hospitality (travel, room and board, lift tickets, etc.) while covering an actual or potential assignment, as long as such hospitality is extended as a professional courtesy.
B. To accept an occasional advertorial assignment, including inserts in magazines and newspapers and articles in industry-controlled publications, providing such work is clearly labeled and does not conflict with journalistic responsibilities. Such work is unacceptable as credentials for Active membership.
C. To assist in the operation of a press room for a snowsports area at a major event.
Active Member Guidelines - Unacceptable Conduct
A. To demand the extension of courtesies from a snowsports area or supplier, or use coverage as leverage to obtain privileges or courtesies.
B. To solicit gifts or products for yourself, family or friends.
C. To sell media coverage to snowsports-related companies - i.e. to offer inclusion in a snowsports report for a fee, or to be a partner in an agreement to trade editorial coverage for advertising.
D. To trade hospitality from snowsports related companies and areas for media coverage or favored treatment.
E. To represent, advertise or promote yourself as a consultant to the snowsports industry for public relations, advertising, promotional, marketing, management or other conflicting non-editorial purposes.
F.  To falsely represent credentials or work output as part of any membership review or listing.
G. To use the NASJA or NASJA-West name except to designate membership, or to use official NASJA or NASJA-West stationery except for the conduct of official business of the Association.
H. To use the NASJA or NASJA-West logo in any manner.
I.   To engage in conduct that embarrasses the Association or will otherwise harm its reputation or professionalism.
J.  To deliberately misrepresent participation in a media trip in order to secure an editorial assignment, or to misrepresent the status of an assignment in order to secure participation in a media trip.
K. To fail to acknowledge that participation of guests on a media trip is subject to the restrictions of the host, and at no time shall a guest attend in place of a member.
L.  To fail to personally pay for all services required on a media trip that are personal, or over and above the services voluntarily provided by the host.
Corporate Member Guidelines
A. NASJA members are not automatically entitled to privileges or courtesies. Courtesies at hosting snowsports areas, restaurants, hotels, airlines or suppliers are offered to a member at the discretion of management.  It is entirely at the management’s discretion whether or not to extend courtesies to a spouse, guest and/or children of NASJA members.
B. Snowsports areas and suppliers of goods and services are encouraged to formulate a courtesies policy for NASJA-West members, and to inform all members of their staff of the provisions and scope of that policy, including procedures for handling a spouse, guest and/or children. Attention should be given to single-day, overnight and multi-day visits as well as advance notice required to arrange a visit.
C. Snowsports industry management has the right to inquire from any NASJA-West member as to the nature of the article and its targeted publication/broadcast. In the event credentials are in question, management is encouraged to request the name and phone number of the assigning editor for verification.
D. Snowsports industry members are encouraged to document all requested courtesies from NASJA-West members, and especially to report, in writing, abuses of courtesies to the NASJA-West Board of Directors.
E. Snowsports industry management should be aware that certain media outlets prohibit the acceptance of courtesies by their employees as a perceived conflict of interest. Management could, however, offer reduced media or business rates.
F.  Extended courtesies should not be considered “trade� for favorable coverage. Acceptance of courtesies carries no entitlements for coverage.
MEDIA TRIP ETIQUETTE
General Conduct
Follow all instructions and guidelines that have been set forth by the host. Do not ask to bring more people and do not ask to have your lodging changed. Make prior, advance arrangements to address personal needs or requests.
If there are problems, report them to one of your regional officers. Do not criticize anyone in public and use discretion in approaching your host with a problem.
Remember, whether you are participating in an organized media trip or on your own gathering material for a story, you represent NASJA-West. Do your best to leave a good impression and remember you are their guest -- act like one. Collect business cards from your hosts and follow up by sending thank you letters.
The expectation from attending a trip is that you will make an honest effort to produce exposure for the host(s), and you should send tear sheets to the parties involved. If you are unable to provide coverage you should let the host(s) know the outcome of your endeavor. A hosted journalist who is never heard from again reflects on everyone in the Association.
Scheduled Activities/Events & Material Handouts
If there is a scheduled activity or event you do not wish to attend, talk with the host beforehand and express your wishes. Do not skip a function because it does not fit your professional or personal needs.
Do not refuse handouts or leave marketing material behind in your lodging or at a meal or event. If the material will not be of use to you or duplicates material you already have, let the host know this. Do ask to have material shipped back to your office or home rather than lugging it around.
Tipping
If the service is excellent you should tip accordingly, especially if you are on a comp media trip. These folks work just as hard, if not harder, for visiting snowsports journalists as they do the public. Show them you appreciate it. Find out ahead of time if your mountain guide is an area executive, in which case you do not need to tip that person.
If a meal is hosted, you should be informed ahead of time whether you are to handle your own gratuity. In most cases it is also covered but do not assume this is the situation.
Tipping guidelines:
- Â Restaurant Servers -- 15% (20% for exceptional service)
- Guides -- $5-10 per person (group should decide)
- Ski Check Personnel -- $3-5 per day
- Ski Shop Tuners -- $3-5
- Room Service Server -- $3-5 per order
- Maids -- $3-5 per day
- Porters -- $1 per bag (including ski bag)
- Hotel Doorman -- $1-2 per bag, $1 to hail a cab
- Parking Valets -- $2-5 per use
- Bus Drivers -- $3-5 per person (depending
- on how long the driver is with the group)
- Taxi Drivers -- 15% of the far
