Arizona Lobbying + Relationships
Our Association fully funds the only lobbyist for Arizona local media at the state legislature, proactively advocating for new solutions that can support local media and fight back against any legislation that may impact the industry. Full members help chart the course of this advocacy. This support includes connecting members with our state’s legislative leaders to build new bridges in Arizona + a legislative newsletter that provides updates during Arizona legislative season.

Legal Support Services
We have a day-to-day media business lawyer on retainer for free access to basic legal questions. We also keep sizable funds set aside for any full membership-wide legal defense needs. In addition, we offer custom support for both broadcast and newspaper members. Broadcast members get free access to our FCC lawyer and support for both emergency alert system needs and tower support. Newspaper members get free access to support and programming that navigates the complex public notice world in Arizona.

DC Lobbying + Relationships
We partner with national print, digital and broadcast media organizations to support our Arizona local media advocacy mission in Washington, D.C., regularly meeting with our Arizona members of Congress and key national leaders to build support for common causes that can support Arizona local media.

Paid Internships
Alongside our sister Arizona Local News Foundation, our Association fully funds dozens of paid internships each year at member local media brands. These $3,700 internships are meant to support our members and train the next generation of Arizona media.

Media Job Board
We maintain the state’s largest job board for local media opportunities. All members that operate local media companies have access to post new positions to this job board and the Association invests dollars throughout each year to market this board to job seekers across the state.

Career Fairs
The Association covers all costs for members to participate in career fairs hosted at university partners across Arizona. This usually includes access to booth space and management of all logistics to keep it simple.

Scholarships + Media Workshops Access
Our Association financially supports college scholarships and training programs in the local media schools at each of Arizona’s three state universities. Our goal is to deeply invest in the next generation of employees. Full members get access to workshops. Starting in 2026, we plan to connect the scholarship recipients with the AMA membership, furthering the goal that these scholarship recipients have career options with local media.

Annual Arizona Media Study
Our Association commissions an annual research study to track media consumption habits across Arizona. The study covers traditional and digital platforms, looks at advertising trends and dives into trust in news. The newest study is released each spring. All members get access to the full report + demographics.

Media Lists, Legal Guides and Best Practices
We provide access to the state’s most comprehensive list of media contacts for hundreds of local brands plus media legal guides for topics like marijuana and artificial intelligence, ad agency contacts and more. All members get full access to continuously updated documents.

Training Programs
All radio and TV members have access to our third-party inspection program designed to train members on how to ensure FCC compliance. We also host events and training solutions aimed at helping ensure members have access to support for evolving technology or topic expertise.

Industry Awards and Recognition
The Arizona Media Association organizes annual events throughout the year to recognize the best of our local media community. This includes our Arizona Media Icon Lunch, where we induct members of our Arizona Media Hall of Fame and honor our Lifetime Service award winners. We also put on a contest to help showcase Arizona media’s best work each year. All local media associate or full members can participate in awards and contest events.

Real-Time Communication
The Arizona media landscape continues to change quickly. We compile and share a monthly email newsletter with key updates, new opportunities and yellow flags that need to be shared. We also send updates as warranted to all members as issues require more urgency.

Arizona Local News Foundation
This stand-alone Foundation exists to connect communities with more local news and information that drives our state forward. Backed by 350 local media brands that are part of the Arizona Media Association and overseen by its own independent board of directors, the Foundation funds programs that ensure information is more accessible and impactful in every Arizona community. This includes support for journalism expansion, innovation and expanded coverage of key topics like election information, education solutions, etc.