National Convention Program
The National Convention Program attracts attendees from across the United States, Canada and internationally that are interested in the state of the LGBT story. The convention program offers skills building workshops; a career and community exposition; print, broadcast and online tracks; student website, video and radio projects; and excellence in journalism awards. Past headliners have included Katie Couric, Lesley Stahl, Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, Linda Ellerbee and Ted Allen.
LGBT Media Summit
NLGJA’s first LGBT Media Summit was held on June 24, 2004 in New York. NLGJA recognizes that LGBT Media workers have unique needs and interests, and has created this event as an opportunity for professionals in the industry to share skills, network and enrich their careers.
NLGJA's 3rd Annual LGBT Media Summit will take place in conjunction with "Out in the Sunshine," NLGJA's 2006 National Convention, on September 7, 2006 at the Eden Roc Renaissance in Miami.
Leroy F. Aarons Journalism Education Program
The Leroy F. Aarons Journalism Education Program is your gateway to the most comprehensive collection of academic resources on sexual orientation issues in the news media, as well as educational and training resources for students. NLGJA is the news industry’s leader on sexual orientation coverage issues. This site has been developed by both professors and practicing journalists as the go-to resource on fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community.
NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards Program
NLGJA's Excellence in Journalism Awards recognize outstanding coverage of LGBT issues in print news, print feature, print opinion/editorial, television, radio, online and photojournalism.
Click here to see the winners of the 2005 Excellence in Journalism Awards.
A Newsroom for Everyone: NLGJA's Campaign to Protect Gender Identity and Expression
The Newsroom for Everyone Campaign represents the next step in opening newsroom doors wider. By lobbying for the inclusion of gender identity and expression in non-discrimination policies, the Newsroom for Everyone Campaign will improve newsroom conditions for all employees by prohibiting gender-based stereotyping and harassment and strengthening employers’ commitment to diversity. Click here to learn more.
Podunk: NLGJA's Smaller Markets Task Force
The Smaller Markets Task Force is a group of NLGJA members seeking to build a stronger sense of community among those living and working outside of major metropolitan areas. Click here to find out what it really means to be "podunk."
Rapid Response Task Force
This panel of working journalists from mainstream and LGBT media answers complaints about reporting seen as unfair and/or inaccurate by readers, viewers, listeners and our peer journalists around the country. Click here to learn more about the Rapid Response Task Force.
NLGJA Institutes
The NLGJA Institutes are the programmatic response of NLGJA’s mission to bring professional development to our membership. The Institutes are designed to help journalists in their coverage of today’s pressing issues and teach valuable professional skills to our membership. Click here for the NLGJA Institutes schedule.
NLGJA Newsroom Outreach Project
NLGJA’s Newsroom Outreach Project works to further the mission of NLGJA through newsroom presentations and face-to-face meetings with top newsroom leaders across the country to educate journalists on appropriate use of terminology and how to improve coverage of LGBT issues. Click here for the Newsroom Outreach Project schedule and to organize a meeting for your newsroom.
NLGJA Journalists' Toolbox
The NLGJA Journalists' Toolbox is designed primarily to assist journalists who don't normally cover the LGBT community. The advice in this resource is drawn from outside media experts and our own members -- who are professional journalists for both mainstream media and the LGBT press. The Journalists' Toolbox also offers story ideas and new ways of thinking for reporters who are experienced in covering LGBT life.
Mentorship Program
The NLGJA Mentorship Program matches early-career journalists with more experienced mentors from the profession. These pairings involve an exchange of invaluable professional advice and encouragement, and they help our members to be confidently out in the newsroom.
Student Outreach and Education Program
The Student Outreach and Education Program provides educational tools to future journalists to cope with the complex social issues around sexual orientation as reflected in the news media. It is designed to mentor the next generation of journalists through outreach and education projects such as campus conferences, scholarships and NLGJA national office internships. NLGJA members are guest lecturers in classrooms, produce half-day regional campus conferences, and meet with editors of the campus press. Click here to learn more.
The Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award
Provides a $5,000 academic scholarship to a student pursuing journalism as a career. Click here for an application.
Directory of News Media Companies/Unions With Domestic Partner Benefits
A resource for journalists and executives in the news industry who are facing increased demand from employees seeking domestic partner (DP) benefits. The Directory of News Media Companies/Unions With Domestic Partner Benefits tracks NLGJA's success in securing DP benefits for gay and lesbian employees in over 1,000 newsrooms and features a step-by-step guide to acquiring DP benefits. This directory is designed primarily as an informational resource. NLGJA has attempted to list every division within corporations that offer health insurance to domestic partners, since DP benefits are not always available corporate wide.
NLGJA @ AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA, SAJA Conventions
NLGJA leaders and chapters attend the four UNITY group and SAJA conventions each summer. We coordinate panels that explore the intersection of sexual orientation and race/ethnicity, host outreach booths in the expo halls and host receptions with the convention attendees and local NLGJA members. Building bridges between NLGJA and AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA, & SAJA is a priority for NLGJA. Click here to see the 2005 summer schedule and coverage of the events.
NewsWatch Program
The NewsWatch Program is affiliated with San Francisco University's Journalism Department and the members of UNITY. It is an online resource that tracks inferior and inaccurate coverage of LGBT and other communities. Members write in-depth articles which are posted on the NewsWatch website.