National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association
Encyclopedia
The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is an American professional association dedicated to unbiased coverage of gay/lesbian issues in the media. It is based in Washington, D.C.
, and the membership consists primarily of journalists and students in print, broadcast, and online media.
According to the NLGJA's web site, "The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members."
in 1990, it currently has roughly 700 members in the United States and abroad.
David Steinberg of the San Francisco Chronicle
is the association's national President. The rest of the Executive Committee are Michael Triplett, Vice President for Print and New Media; Jen Christenson, Vice President for Broadcast; Trey Graham, Treasurer; and Ken Miguel, Secretary.
Past national Presidents of NLGJA are Roy Aarons
(founder), Karen-Louise Boothe, Robert Dodge, Steven Petrow
, and Eric Hegedus.
In 2006, CNN
donated US$100,000 to the NLGJA.
Each year the NLGJA hosts the Headlines & Headliners Benefit in New York City
as a fundraiser to support its programs throughout the year. The 2011 event is being hosted by Thomas Roberts
of MSNBC
. 2010’s event was hosted by the Today Show’s Kathie Lee Gifford
and Hoda Kotb.
2010 marked the 20th anniversary for NLGJA. It hosted its annual convention in San Francisco. In 2009 http://nlgja.org/convention/2009, NLGJA held its first international convention in Montreal
, Canada
.
The organization's 2008 convention, "NLGJA Goes to Washington," took place in Washington, D.C.
. The 2007 convention was held in San Diego, California
the first week of September and was titled "Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves." One of the keynote speakers was transsexual Los Angeles Times
sports writer Christine Daniels.
The 2006 convention, held in Miami Beach, Florida
, attracted about 650 journalists. During that event, CNN Headline News
anchor Thomas Roberts
discussed being openly gay during a panel while on air.
Previous conventions have been held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles
, New York City
, Philadelphia, Las Vegas
and San Francisco.
(HOF) so that their legacy may be remembered for generations to come . Inductions occur during the NLGJA annual conference each year along with the annual Excellence in Journalism awards .
Inductees by year:
2011:
W. Dorr Legg
: pioneering gay activist and co-founder of ground-breaking gay publication, ONE, Inc.
Don Michaels: reporter in 1970s for highly-respected Washington Blade, and later its publisher.
Michelangelo Signorile
: author; Sirius XM radio host; co-founding editor of influential OutWeek
magazine.
2010:
Lisa Ben, pseudonym for the editor of the first lesbian publication
Hank Plante
: Emmy- and Peabody-winning television anchor and reporter.
Richard Rouilard: Early NLGJA member and editor-at-large for The Advocate
magazine.
2009:
Garrett Glaser
: the first television journalist to come out of the closet to the radio and television news industry
Ronald Gold: A sharp writer with an uncompromising style, Gold built a career writing for a number of publications, including Variety
Deb Price: Began her collum for The Detroit News inviting readers to help her come up with a less awkward way of introducing her boss to her partner
2008:
Richard Goldstein
: Founder of the Village’s Voice annual Queer issue and author of several novels and essays on issues within the gay rights movement
Gail Shister: First mainstream reporter to be vocally “out” and an active member of the NLGJA
2007:
Jim Kepner
: Writer for publications like ONE magazine and the PRIDE
newsletter, which then became the Los Angeles Advocate
Jack Nichols
: Founding editor of GAY newspaper and one-time editor of Sexology
and GayToday.com
Barbara Gittings
and Kay Tobin Lahusen: Known for their work with The Ladder
, the Daughters of Bilitis
publication; Also participated in early gay rights demonstrations during the 1960s
2006:
Marlon Riggs
: Writer and director of documentary films about the gay rights movement and race relations
2005:
Leroy F. Aarons
: Founder of the NLGJA who was an author, playwright, and journalist
Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin: Founders of lesbian publication The Ladder
and the first same-sex couple to be married in San Francisco
Thomas Morgan III: New York Times reporter and editor who, as president of the National Association of Black Journalists
, opened doors for fellow gay and lesbian journalists
Sarah Pettit: Co-creator of Out magazine and one-time Arts editor for Newsweek
and OutWeek
Randy Shilts
: Reporter for the Advocate
and the San Francisco Chronicle
and author of several books focused on the AIDS epidemic
Don Slater: Founded ONE magazine and fought for freedom of distribution of gay and lesbian publications
The Excellence in Journalism Awards were not held in 2009 but resumed in 2010.
Journalist of the Year Award recipients:
2011: LZ Granderson
, ESPN Magazine
2010: Randy Gener, American Theatre (magazine)
2008: Martha Irvine, Associated Press
2007: James Kirchick
2006: Jason Bellini
, CBS News
on Logo
2005: Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle
Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for Excellence in LGBT Media
2011: Michael Luongo, Freelance Writer
2010: Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate
2008: Laura Douglas-Brown, Southern Voice
2007: Ryan Lee
, Southern Voice
2006: Malinda Lo, AfterEllen.com
2005: John Caldwell
, The Advocate
The NLGJA’s most noteworthy tangible contribution to the journalism industry is the NLGJA Stylebook Supplement on LGBT Terminology, which fellow journalists can use for reference when writing about topics relating to the LGBT community. According to the organization’s website it is part of the NLGJA’s push to encourage “the association's mission of inclusive coverage of LGBT people"
The Stylebook Supplement can be found on the NLGJA website in both English and, as of 2005, Spanish.
Press Service:
In connection with Witech-Combs Communications, the NLGJA launched OutNewsWire in 2008 to simplify the distribution of news articles relating to the LGBT community. The wire has more than 400 journalists receiving updates currently, which are available online. The service comes at a discounted price to “nonprofits hoping to use the service to reach the gay media"
During the seminars, facilitators introduce employees to the “model of parity” NLGJA developed in order to encourage equality and inclusiveness within the workplace. There are fourteen steps in this model, highlighting both workplace climate and fair compensation. Included in these steps are things like avoiding double standards, promoting balanced coverage, providing the same insurance coverage for all employees, and offering family and medical leave .
These seminars have evolved into what NLGJA now calls its “Newsroom Outreach Project.” These meetings with journalists, according to the organization’s website, work to “further NLGJA’s mission through meetings with broadcast, print and online newsroom leaders across the country.” The subject matter of the meetings is very similar to that of their earlier seminars—mostly covering things like correct terminology and treatment in the workplace. The first official meeting took place in January 2004 and they have been going strong in cities across the nation since then.
journalists, the NLGJA formed their NLGJA Student Central website. The site features content aimed at supporting young journalists in their early years with scholarship information, online networking opportunities, articles about LGBT issues in journalism, student project opportunities, NLGJA membership information, and an abundance of links to online resources.
The NLGJA offers several scholarships each year to students “committed to NLGJA’s mission of fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community” . These scholarships include the Leroy F. Aarons
scholarship and the Kay Longcope scholarship, each of which provides tuition money to one LGBT student a year.
There is also an internship opportunity offered to one student each year. The Leroy F. Aarons Newsroom Internship pays the student to work for ten weeks in an actual newsroom.
Since then, membership has remained fairly consistnt.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and the membership consists primarily of journalists and students in print, broadcast, and online media.
According to the NLGJA's web site, "The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members."
History
Founded by Roy AaronsLeroy F. Aarons
Leroy "Roy" F. Aarons was an American journalist, editor, author, playwright, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association , and founding member of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education...
in 1990, it currently has roughly 700 members in the United States and abroad.
David Steinberg of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
is the association's national President. The rest of the Executive Committee are Michael Triplett, Vice President for Print and New Media; Jen Christenson, Vice President for Broadcast; Trey Graham, Treasurer; and Ken Miguel, Secretary.
Past national Presidents of NLGJA are Roy Aarons
Leroy F. Aarons
Leroy "Roy" F. Aarons was an American journalist, editor, author, playwright, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association , and founding member of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education...
(founder), Karen-Louise Boothe, Robert Dodge, Steven Petrow
Steven Petrow
Steven Petrow is an American journalist and author who writes frequently on gay and lesbian issues as well as manners and etiquette.-Life and work:...
, and Eric Hegedus.
In 2006, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
donated US$100,000 to the NLGJA.
Each year the NLGJA hosts the Headlines & Headliners Benefit in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a fundraiser to support its programs throughout the year. The 2011 event is being hosted by Thomas Roberts
Thomas Roberts (news anchor)
Thomas Roberts is an American journalist who, since April 2010, has served as a news anchor for MSNBC, a cable-news channel.-Early life and education:...
of MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
. 2010’s event was hosted by the Today Show’s Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
and Hoda Kotb.
Conventions
From its inception in 1990, NLJGA hosts an annual convention inviting their members to participate in top-level training sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and social & professional networking events. Beginning in 2003, a one day LGBT Media Summit was added to the event to educate and network journalists working within LGBT Media. Both events continue into 2011, with this year's National Convention & LGBT Media summit taking place in Philadelphia.2010 marked the 20th anniversary for NLGJA. It hosted its annual convention in San Francisco. In 2009 http://nlgja.org/convention/2009, NLGJA held its first international convention in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The organization's 2008 convention, "NLGJA Goes to Washington," took place in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The 2007 convention was held in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
the first week of September and was titled "Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves." One of the keynote speakers was transsexual Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
sports writer Christine Daniels.
The 2006 convention, held in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, attracted about 650 journalists. During that event, CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
anchor Thomas Roberts
Thomas Roberts (news anchor)
Thomas Roberts is an American journalist who, since April 2010, has served as a news anchor for MSNBC, a cable-news channel.-Early life and education:...
discussed being openly gay during a panel while on air.
Previous conventions have been held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
and San Francisco.
LGBT Journalist Hall of Fame
Starting in 2005, the NLGJA has inducted noteworthy gay and lesbian journalists into a Hall of FameHall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
(HOF) so that their legacy may be remembered for generations to come . Inductions occur during the NLGJA annual conference each year along with the annual Excellence in Journalism awards .
Inductees by year:
2011:
W. Dorr Legg
W. Dorr Legg
W. Dorr Legg , was a landscape architect and one of the founders of the United States gay rights movement, then called the homophile movement.The second child of Franc C. Dorr and Frank E...
: pioneering gay activist and co-founder of ground-breaking gay publication, ONE, Inc.
ONE, Inc.
ONE, Inc. was an early gay rights organization in the United States.The idea for a publication dedicated to homosexuals emerged from a Mattachine Society discussion meeting held on October 15, 1952....
Don Michaels: reporter in 1970s for highly-respected Washington Blade, and later its publisher.
Michelangelo Signorile
Michelangelo Signorile
Michelangelo Signorile is a gay American writer, a national talk radio host whose program is aired each weekday across the United States and Canada. He is a political liberal, and covers a wide variety of political and cultural issues...
: author; Sirius XM radio host; co-founding editor of influential OutWeek
OutWeek
OutWeek Magazine was an influential gay and lesbian weekly news magazine published in New York City from 1989 to 1991. During its two year existence, OutWeek was widely considered the leading voice of AIDS activism and the initiator of a radical new sensibility in lesbian and gay...
magazine.
2010:
Lisa Ben, pseudonym for the editor of the first lesbian publication
Hank Plante
Hank Plante
Hank Plante is an American television reporter and editor. Winner of the George Foster Peabody Award and multiple Emmys, he covered California for three decades for TV stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He now writes occasional columns for newspapers in California, usually focusing on...
: Emmy- and Peabody-winning television anchor and reporter.
Richard Rouilard: Early NLGJA member and editor-at-large for The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
magazine.
2009:
Garrett Glaser
Garrett Glaser
Garrett Glaser is a retired news reporter who was one of the first US television journalists to "come out" publicly as a homosexual....
: the first television journalist to come out of the closet to the radio and television news industry
Ronald Gold: A sharp writer with an uncompromising style, Gold built a career writing for a number of publications, including Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
Deb Price: Began her collum for The Detroit News inviting readers to help her come up with a less awkward way of introducing her boss to her partner
2008:
Richard Goldstein
Richard Goldstein (writer born 1944)
Richard Goldstein is an American journalist and writer. He wrote for the Village Voice from June 1966 until 2004, eventually becoming executive editor. He specializes in gay and lesbian issues, music, and counterculture topics....
: Founder of the Village’s Voice annual Queer issue and author of several novels and essays on issues within the gay rights movement
Gail Shister: First mainstream reporter to be vocally “out” and an active member of the NLGJA
2007:
Jim Kepner
Jim Kepner
James Lynn 'Jim' Kepner, Jr. was a journalist, author, historian, archivist and leader in the gay rights movement. His work was intertwined with One, Inc...
: Writer for publications like ONE magazine and the PRIDE
Personal Rights in Defense and Education
Personal Rights in Defense and Education or PRIDE was a gay political organization. Established in 1966 as a radical gay political organization that from its origination set a new tone for gay political groups like the Gay Liberation Front , ACT UP and the Radical Faeries...
newsletter, which then became the Los Angeles Advocate
Jack Nichols
Jack Nichols (activist)
John Richard "Jack" Nichols was an American gay rights activist. He co-founded the Washington, D.C. branch of the Mattachine Society in 1961 with Franklin E. Kameny. He appeared in a 1967 documentary under the pseudonym Warren Adkins.- Biography :Nichols was born in Washington, D.C. to parents of...
: Founding editor of GAY newspaper and one-time editor of Sexology
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
and GayToday.com
Barbara Gittings
Barbara Gittings
Barbara Gittings was a prominent American activist for gay equality. She organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis from 1958 to 1963, edited the national DOB magazine The Ladder from 1963 to 1966, and worked closely with Frank Kameny in the 1960s on the first picket lines that...
and Kay Tobin Lahusen: Known for their work with The Ladder
The Ladder
* "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002...
, the Daughters of Bilitis
Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis , was the first lesbian rights organization in the United States. It was formed in San Francisco in 1955, conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were considered illegal and thus subject to raids and police harassment...
publication; Also participated in early gay rights demonstrations during the 1960s
2006:
Marlon Riggs
Marlon Riggs
Marlon Troy Riggs was a gay African-American filmmaker, educator, poet, and gay rights activist. He produced, wrote, and directed several television documentaries, including Ethnic Notions, Tongues Untied, Color Adjustment, and Black Is. ....
: Writer and director of documentary films about the gay rights movement and race relations
2005:
Leroy F. Aarons
Leroy F. Aarons
Leroy "Roy" F. Aarons was an American journalist, editor, author, playwright, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association , and founding member of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education...
: Founder of the NLGJA who was an author, playwright, and journalist
Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin: Founders of lesbian publication The Ladder
The Ladder
* "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002...
and the first same-sex couple to be married in San Francisco
Thomas Morgan III: New York Times reporter and editor who, as president of the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
, opened doors for fellow gay and lesbian journalists
Sarah Pettit: Co-creator of Out magazine and one-time Arts editor for Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
and OutWeek
OutWeek
OutWeek Magazine was an influential gay and lesbian weekly news magazine published in New York City from 1989 to 1991. During its two year existence, OutWeek was widely considered the leading voice of AIDS activism and the initiator of a radical new sensibility in lesbian and gay...
Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts was a pioneering gay American journalist and author. He worked as a freelance reporter for both The Advocate and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as for San Francisco Bay Area television stations....
: Reporter for the Advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
and the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
and author of several books focused on the AIDS epidemic
Don Slater: Founded ONE magazine and fought for freedom of distribution of gay and lesbian publications
Excellence in Journalism Awards
Continuing a tradition started in 1993, the NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards are given each year to recognize journalists who have made a difference in their field. Each year the organization chooses recipients for awards in twelve categories spanning fields like local television, radio, HIV/AIDS coverage, photojournalism, and feature writing. The awards are given out at the NLGJA convention each year .The Excellence in Journalism Awards were not held in 2009 but resumed in 2010.
Journalist of the Year Award recipients:
2011: LZ Granderson
LZ Granderson
LZ Granderson is an American columnist for ESPN.com's Page 2 and a CNN contributor. He writes a weekly column for CNN.com. A senior writer and columnist for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, he has contributed to ESPN's Sports Center, Outside the Lines and ESPN First Take...
, ESPN Magazine
2010: Randy Gener, American Theatre (magazine)
2008: Martha Irvine, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
2007: James Kirchick
James Kirchick
James Kirchick is a reporter, foreign correspondent and columnist. He is a fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington; prior to this he was writer-at-large for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty....
2006: Jason Bellini
Jason Bellini
Jason Bellini is an American journalist, and until August 2008 was the lead news anchor for CBS News on Logo. He received the 2006 "Journalist of the Year" award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association . From 1998 to 2005, he worked as a CNN correspondent...
, CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
on Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
2005: Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for Excellence in LGBT Media
2011: Michael Luongo, Freelance Writer
2010: Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
2008: Laura Douglas-Brown, Southern Voice
2007: Ryan Lee
Ryan Lee
Ryan Lee is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed since by actor Alistair McDougall. While not featuring in the opening credits, Ryan made a significant amount of appearances as a recurring character....
, Southern Voice
2006: Malinda Lo, AfterEllen.com
AfterEllen.com
AfterEllen.com, founded in April 2002, is a website that focuses on the portrayal of lesbian and bisexual women in the media. AfterElton.com, its brother site for gay and bisexual men, was launched in January 2005. The websites were founded by Sarah Warn, who initially served as the editor in...
2005: John Caldwell
John Caldwell
John Caldwell may refer to:* John Caldwell , American cartoonist* John Caldwell , Irish Olympian, bronze medal in 1956 Olympics* John Caldwell , Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, 1804...
, The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
Contributions to Journalism
Stylebook SupplementThe NLGJA’s most noteworthy tangible contribution to the journalism industry is the NLGJA Stylebook Supplement on LGBT Terminology, which fellow journalists can use for reference when writing about topics relating to the LGBT community. According to the organization’s website it is part of the NLGJA’s push to encourage “the association's mission of inclusive coverage of LGBT people"
The Stylebook Supplement can be found on the NLGJA website in both English and, as of 2005, Spanish.
Press Service:
In connection with Witech-Combs Communications, the NLGJA launched OutNewsWire in 2008 to simplify the distribution of news articles relating to the LGBT community. The wire has more than 400 journalists receiving updates currently, which are available online. The service comes at a discounted price to “nonprofits hoping to use the service to reach the gay media"
Newsroom Outreach Project
As early as 1996, the NLGJA, along with Hollywood Supports, developed “sexual orientation in the workplace” seminars that were conducted in Knight-Ridder newspapers across on the nation. The seminars were designed to place emphasis on acceptance in the workplace, through discussions of stereotypes and business and legal issues involved with homosexuality. The stated goal of these seminars was to provide an LGBT-friendly office environment for homosexual journalists, but the discussions also pushed for domestic partnership benefits at newspapers across the nation, one of the main focuses of the gay rights movement nationwide. The seminars are offered free of charge to news organizations.During the seminars, facilitators introduce employees to the “model of parity” NLGJA developed in order to encourage equality and inclusiveness within the workplace. There are fourteen steps in this model, highlighting both workplace climate and fair compensation. Included in these steps are things like avoiding double standards, promoting balanced coverage, providing the same insurance coverage for all employees, and offering family and medical leave .
These seminars have evolved into what NLGJA now calls its “Newsroom Outreach Project.” These meetings with journalists, according to the organization’s website, work to “further NLGJA’s mission through meetings with broadcast, print and online newsroom leaders across the country.” The subject matter of the meetings is very similar to that of their earlier seminars—mostly covering things like correct terminology and treatment in the workplace. The first official meeting took place in January 2004 and they have been going strong in cities across the nation since then.
Rapid Response Task Force
In order to more directly combat biased journalism, the NLGJA formed the Rapid Response Task Force. This team of journalists addresses any news piece that readers report as being offensive or inaccurate and informs writers and readers of the correct terminology, which furthers their mission of equality and helps to “spread awareness about issues facing the LGBT community” . In order to report a biased or offensive story, readers simply email the link or a description of the article to the NLGJA and the problem is evaluated.Student Outreach
In an attempt at connecting with and encouraging future LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
journalists, the NLGJA formed their NLGJA Student Central website. The site features content aimed at supporting young journalists in their early years with scholarship information, online networking opportunities, articles about LGBT issues in journalism, student project opportunities, NLGJA membership information, and an abundance of links to online resources.
The NLGJA offers several scholarships each year to students “committed to NLGJA’s mission of fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community” . These scholarships include the Leroy F. Aarons
Leroy F. Aarons
Leroy "Roy" F. Aarons was an American journalist, editor, author, playwright, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association , and founding member of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education...
scholarship and the Kay Longcope scholarship, each of which provides tuition money to one LGBT student a year.
There is also an internship opportunity offered to one student each year. The Leroy F. Aarons Newsroom Internship pays the student to work for ten weeks in an actual newsroom.
Membership
As of 2008, the NLGJA reported that they were facing hard economic times along with the rest of the journalism industry. The organization has seen decreased funding from both news companies that have supported them and convention revenue. Between 2008 and 2009, the organization lost about 200 members: not surprising given the number of people laid off in the media industry that year.Since then, membership has remained fairly consistnt.