About NASNA

Mission 
The North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) exists to support and build effective, self-sustaining street newspapers that promote opportunities for people living in poverty and public awareness of issues of concern to the poor, homeless, socially excluded communities.

The idea for NASNA began in 1996, when two dozen street newspaper came together to explore the possibilities of creating a united network. The following year, in Seattle, NASNA became a reality when 37 papers agreed on a mission, goals, and other strategies to build unity in our movement. 

In the past decade, many new street papers have started operations, some older ones have closed up shop, and still others have flourished and grown. As of January 2009, NASNA has 27 members in 14 U.S.states and 4 Canadian provinces. NASNA members have a combined monthly circulation of over 287,000. Our members range from quarterly publications with small circulations to popular weekly newspapers that offer job training and social services.

To read more about NASNA’s recent activity and plans for the future, click here to read the :

2008 Membership Report

2008-2010 Strategic Plan

Technical Assistance:
NASNA offers its members workshops and professional advice to help improve their papers as well their day to day operations. This assistance comes in the form of web and phone-based workshops on topics like vendor management, fundraising and using volunteers. These workshops are run by professionalwith a deep understanding and knowledge of theunique world of street papers.

Recordings of previous technical assistance workshops can be found here:
February 2007 - Introduction

March 2007--Capacity Building Workshop

Communication:
Besides conferences and technical assistance, NASNA members also stay updated on what is going on in the world of street papers through a monthly e-mail newsletter. The NASNA board of directors also communicates monthly through a phone-based conference call and relays the information discussed to members.

NASNA also maintains a blog so members can share new ideas and concerns with each other on a regular basis. This blog is
updated by NASNA staff and members. Visit the blog here:  NASNA Blog

Street News Service:
Through a partnership with the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), NASNA offers its members a network of shared articles called the Street News Service. This web-based service is an interactive and searchable site of news and feature stories,editorials, profiles and photographs.

Articles and photographs are from Reuters and InterPress are also available to NASNA members. Additionally, translation into and from other language is also possible.

NASNA founded the Street News Service in 2002, and it went international in 2005 through a partnership with the INSP.
The INSP now manages the Street News Service with papers from North America and all across the world, contributing fresh
and intriguing stories each week.

NASNA and the INSP:
In 2006 NASNA and the International Network of Street Paper (INSP) formed a strategic alliance where all NASNA members would also be accepted as members of the INSP. While the North American association remains its own separate entity, we are essentially the North American arm of the INSP. This alliance is the first step in forming other regional alliances throughout the vast INSP network.

The International Alliance is made up of about 100 papers in 40 countries all over the world. Cities with street papers range from Cape Town, South Africa to San Paulo, Brazil to Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information on the INSP visit: INSP

Through the relationship with the INSP, NASNA members now receive the benefit of a wider range of stories on the Street News Service, as well as more frequent updates to the service now that it is managed by the INSP. NASNAmembers also are encouraged to attend the INSP conference held every year in cities with street papers throughout the world. The 2009 conference will be held in Bergen, Norway. Additionally NASNA members get monthly newsletters from the INSP with update on street paper innovations and the activity of street papers worldwide.