To help smaller and independent companies qualify, the Nonfiction Producers Association has restructured its membership model.

NPA has broadened its membership criteria and introduced three levels of membership based on company size and work load. These include the standard level for companies meeting the original specifications, the emerging level with lower entry barriers for small companies, and the sole proprietor level for independent producers and showrunners with their own labels. Dues pricing will depend on a company’s membership tier.

“As the first platform to serve as a unified voice for nonfiction producers, our members have always been vocal about the value and benefits of the NPA, but this year there’s been an explosion of membership interest from across the industry,” NPA General Manager John Ford said in a statement. “So we listened and created options that make it easier for more segments of the business to join, including emerging talent with new skills sets and fresh points of view that offer tremendous advantage to the NPA as we continue to address and tackle the key issues driving nonfiction entertainment.”

NPA represents companies producing unscripted nonfiction television shows from documentaries on Discovery Channel to reality shows on MTV. And while the membership has expanded to include smaller production companies making less than $1 million annually, as well as the first Canadian member, Cream Productions, NPA has also opened an associate membership to vendors and industry service providers such as payroll services, transcription companies, and law firms.

“It diversifies and enriches our membership, and that’s important,” Ford told Associations Now. He explained that lifting entry barriers to industry suppliers and smaller companies will help further connect those working within the industry, namely through companies getting closer access to service providers or freelance producers.

“What our association does best is connect members with one another to help get inside answers to questions that are posed in this business every single day,” Ford said.

“When you’re a member, you have 40 other members suddenly who are pretty much in the same situation, who are exposed to the same kind of business problems you encounter on a daily basis,” he continued. “And when you ask a questions it’s going to get five or six good answers coming back to you from the membership on just about any question you could ask.”

Though the new membership segments will receive access to the NPA newsletter, email chain, and meeting, they will not be able to participate in voting processes or serve on the board.

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