About TCA: the Television Critics Association

They always say the harshest critic is yourself, but you guys are critics. That’s insane. You must be so hard on yourselves. Be nice to yourselves, okay? Because you have great taste.
—Lucia Aniello, co-creator, Hacks, at the 2024 TCA Awards

The Television Critics Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to enhance television criticism, reporting, and editing standards; promote accurate coverage; increase public understanding; and elevate television's role in American culture. 

The annual TCA Awards have been awarded since 1984 to recognize the best in television; nominees and winners are selected by TCA members.

Critics, editors, and writers who are members of TCA agree to a Code of Conduct and other standards to ensure accurate, fair, and ethical coverage.

Some questions about TCA, answered:

  1. Who's in TCA?
    The Television Critics Association represents about 250 journalists writing about television for print and online outlets in the United States and Canada.

  2. Can I join the TCA? 
    Membership in the Television Critics Association is open to full-time TV writers at newspapers, magazines, trade publications, news wire services, news syndicates, and text-based Internet news organizations.

    Applications are accepted twice a year. See Joining the Television Critics Association for more information.

  3. What is TCA press tour?
    The Television Critics Association exists to serve its membership of full-time TV critics, most of whom do not live near the entertainment capitals of Los Angeles and New York. The twice-yearly TCA press tour represents an unparalleled opportunity to gain access to the people who make television.The reporting our members do at press tour creates story material year-round as well as valuable face-to-face contacts with network executives, producers and actors.