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About CWA
CWA: A Concise History
by Tom Kuennen
The Construction Writers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for journalists, writers, editors, public relations, marketing, and communications professionals serving the information needs of the construction industry. The association strives to provide educational benefits to its members.
CWA holds two conferences a year in the spring and fall. Each conference features an awards dinner to recognize remarkable professionals and provides members with excellent networking and educational opportunities. The Journalism Awards, Photography Awards, Silver Hard Hat Awards, and Build A Future Scholarship are awarded to winners at the annual conference, and the Marketing Communications Awards and the Website and Electronic Communications Awards are presented at the fall conference.
In 2011, one conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas as CWA’s annual conference and all of the winners will be presented their awards during the Grand Awards Dinner creating one magnificent conference and awards ceremony!
In addition to these conferences, the association hosts receptions and events at national industry meetings and trade shows. A quarterly newsletter informs members about current activities, members' accomplishments, important industry developments, coming industry events, and job opportunities.
CWA History
The Construction Writers Association was incorporated in the state of New York in 1958. It was founded as an outgrowth of an informal gathering of construction magazine and newspaper editors and writers covering the 1956 meeting of the Highway Officials of the Atlantic States in Atlantic City, NJ. CWA's organizational meeting, at which the first officers were elected, was held at the Stevens Hotel (now the Conrad Hilton) during the January 1957 meeting of the Associated Equipment Distributors in Chicago. If we date our inception from the incorporation date, CWA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008.
Purpose
- Lend prestige and professional status to editors, journalists, communications, and public relations professionals that cover news of activities and report on developments in construction, the largest, most dynamic industry in the world.
- Enhance the public's image regarding the construction industry through authoritative, accurate, and unbiased reporting of construction activities and developments.
- Help improve the quality of reporting, writing, editing and photography that appears in the construction business press, press releases concerning construction events, and marketing material promoting construction services and products.
- Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information sources among professional journalists and public relations professionals serving the construction industry.
- Establish an interactive communications network that links the construction business press with design and construction firms, equipment manufacturers and distributors, materials producers and suppliers, building trades and construction unions, professional and technical societies, trade associations, and government information offices.