ABOUT THE TEXAS AUTO WRITERS

For over 30 years, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) has made its mission to promote accuracy and quality in the automotive journalism field. TAWA has grown to become one of the most influential and recognized automotive journalist associations in the United States. Journalist members of the association are among the most respected in the country.

TAWA seeks to disseminate information about the automotive industry through news related print, broadcast and social media outlets. One of the critical missions of TAWA is to provide access to companies and individuals within the automotive industry that might not be available to individual journalists, and we have become quite successful in that mission.  Auto manufacturers participate in annual TAWA events in great numbers, often with CEOs or major executives in attendance, giving journalists “face time” with some of the most important people in the automotive industry. These executives realize how important their relationship is with members of the automotive press, and TAWA is one of their primary conduits with the media.

TAWA is governed by a board of directors and maintains bylaws to help ensure continued professionalism among its members. As part of TAWA’s commitment to automotive excellence, the association sponsors an annual Excellence in Craft competition for journalist members. The competition gets serious for coveted TAWA journalism awards.

As part of TAWA’s efforts to serve journalist members who cover the automotive industry, the association produces two annual events that have gained national traction: the Auto Roundup in the spring and the the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall. The Automotive Roundup is geared toward cars and CUVs, while the Truck Rodeo, of course, is all about trucks and SUVs. Both events give journalists the opportunity to drive and evaluate vehicles entered by manufacturers. Journalists in the Excellence in Craft Competition are not the only ones hoping to walk away with TAWA awards; manufacturers also covet TAWA trophies. Winners of the Truck Rodeo’s “Truck of Texas” award have announced their awards on national television commercials, and TAWA’s logo has even appeared in Super Bowl commercials.

As part of the group’s continuing dedication to automotive journalism, TAWA has established an endowment that awards annual scholarships to deserving college students interested in writing about the industry. The scholarships are presented to winners at a banquet in conjunction with media day at the Texas State Fair.

When you join TAWA, the benefits are substantial. All members are listed in and receive a membership directory, a virtual who’s who in the automotive industry. Members also receive automatic invitations to both of TAWA’s much anticipated annual events, the Auto Roundup and the Texas Truck Rodeo. And finally, members get unparalleled access to the “movers and shakers” in the automotive industry.

So if you’re interested in adding your voice to one of the most influential collection of voices in the automotive industry, you should take a long look at joining the Texas Auto Writers Association.