NLGJA-DC News & Notes

"Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves" According to 2007 NLGJA-DC Fellowship Recipient David Barnes

2007-10-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

I learned about NLGJA for the first time this April, and the discovery didn't come a moment too soon. I was about to graduate from the George Washington University with my journalism degree, but I still hadn't found my first job. Meanwhile, I felt alone and a little lost as I came to terms with strange and unfamiliar parts of who I am.

Matt Berger, then the D.C. chapter president, recommended that I apply for the chapter’s fellowship to attend “Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves," NLGJA's 2007 National Convention & 4th Annual LGBT Media Summit in San Diego. I applied and was later thrilled to learn I'd been awarded a fellowship.

“Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves" was both the first journalism convention and the first large-scale LGBT gathering I've ever been to. I made lots of professional connections – Orlando Sentinel reporter April Hunt and Christine Daniels of The Los Angeles Times were just two among many – but the convention's most liberating and empowering lesson for me was that there are as many ways to be LGBT as there are people. The friends and role models I found in every direction showed me that I can count on support wherever my true self takes me.

My time in San Diego was absolutely one of the highlights of my year. I'm grateful to Matt Berger for encouraging me to attend – and to NLGJA-DC for making it possible.

Read All About It! 'State of the Movement' in the Blogosphere

2007-04-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful turnout for our "State of the Movement" discussion, including numerous bloggers and reporters.

Click the links below to read the highlights:

Metro Weekly News Article
Bugg Blog, Written By Our Moderator, Sean Bugg
Pam's House Blend, By Panelist Pam Spaulding
The Scientist's View
The Petrelis Files
Jimbo.info

Special thanks to our sponsor Metro Weekly and our moderator, Sean Bugg.

Live in Baltimore? Help Us Plan Events This Spring

2007-04-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

NLGJA-DC is commited to expanding its outreach to our chapter members in Maryland and Virginia. And this spring, we'll be launching our first Baltimore event. If you live or work in the area, or are familiar with local journalists, we could use your help planning our events. Please e-mail Matthew Berger at matt@nlgjadc.org.

And if you think we should have an event near you, drop us an e-mail and tell us about it.

Renew Now & Save: NLGJA Membership Rates Likely to Rise Soon

2007-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

The bad news? After years of keeping its membership rates steady, national NLGJA membership rates are likely to rise in the near future. Operating costs and changes in the journalism market necessitate the increase.

The good news? You can still lock in this year's membership rates and save money! In fact, you can renew now for two years and save even more money. Basic two-year memberships are $100, a savings of $10 now, but probably much more by the time rates increase later this year.

Renew your membership online now!

Your membership helps support important programs, like our recent panel discussion at the National Press Club, and our community forum, "State of the Movement." And it helps us with great social events, like our now famous holiday party, Cocktails & Conversations.

So click here to renew your membership today.

AAJA at the Press Club: East Coast Mini Conference Open to NLGJA-ers

2007-04-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Come discuss the future of journalism with the Asian American Journalists Association and some of the most prominent leaders in the industry at this year's East Coast Mini Conference.
When: Saturday, March 31, 2007

Where: National Press Club; 529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor; Washington, DC
Registration Fee: $40 for AAJA and NLGJA members $50 for non-members and on-site registration; buffet lunch included

Featured Speakers:

Len Downie, Executive Editor of The Washington Post
Ken Paulson, Executive Editor of USAToday
Jim Vandehei, Executive Editor of The Politico

Want to Help Cub Reporters? Teaming Up With Urban Journalism Workshop

2007-04-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

NLGJA-DC is commited to helping young journalists.

That's why we are teaming up with the Urban Journalism Workshop to help DC area high school students learn jounalism skills. Volunteers are needed for March 31 and April 14. Journalists with television skills are in big demand, but all are welcome.

NLGJA-DC members are urged to contact Darlene Superville at 202-776-9548 or dsuperville@ap.org. Or, you can talk to NLGJA-DC board member Mara Lee at marabarco@verizon.net.

Help Us Plan Events: Seeking New Board Members

2007-04-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

We are actively searching for a new chapter secretary and several additions to our board of directors. If you are interested in helping our chapter grow, and supporting the work we do on behalf of LGBT journalists in Washington, Virginian and Maryland, then we could use your help.

The chapter secretary is responsible for taking minutes at meetings and coordinating communication among chapter board members. The secretary would also serve as a liaison between the national office and the board, and would help direct communication efforts toward chapter members.

All board members are asked to participate in monthly meetings and help plan a wide variety of events throughout the year.

If you are interested, please contact Matthew Berger at matt@nlgjadc.org, or call me at 202-255-7478.

How's Your Work Life? Seattle Member Seeks Research Subjects

2007-04-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Seattle chapter member Donna Capodacqua is enlisting volunteers to take a survey designed to measure the relationships that lesbian and gay male employees have with their straight coworkers, and the circumstances and conditions surrounding the disclosure of a lesbian or gay male sexual orientation at work.

She is particularly interested in responses from people working for organizations that have one or more of the following:

A written policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
A diversity training program that includes awareness of gay and lesbian issues.
Diversity workshop or training session devoted exclusively to gay and lesbian issues.
Public support of gay and lesbian issues or activities e.g., corporate representation at Gay Pride events).
An unofficial organization/network of lesbian and gay employees.
An officially recognized organization of lesbian and gay employees.
Benefits for same-sex domestic partners.
Benefits that include bereavement leave for the death of a same-sex domestic partner
or, a corporate equity index (CEI) rating from the Human Rights Campaign(HRC).

The survey is anonymous, the responses are confidential, and it has been approved by Tour University International's Institutional Review Board. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the survey. If you work for an organization that is described above and are interested in participating, please click on the link below. Please pass this information along to others you think might be interested in participating.

Take the survey here.

For more information, go to www.donnacap.info.

LGBT Community Leaders Address the “State of the Movement”in Community Forum Sponsored by NLGJA and “Metro Weekly”

2007-02-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Sean Bugg, Metro Weekly, 202-638-6830, sbugg@metroweekly.com
Matthew Berger, NLGJA, 202-255-7478, matt@nlgjadc.org

LGBT Community Leaders Address the “State of the Movement” in Community Forum Sponsored by NLGJA and “Metro Weekly”

WASHINGTON – The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) and “Metro Weekly” will present “State of the Movement,” a panel discussion about the future of the LGBT community on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 PM at the Human Rights Campaign national headquarters, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW. Members of the LGBT community are invited to participate and bring their own questions.

“The gay community is changing,” said Matthew Berger, NLGJA Washington, DC Chapter President. “Marriage and civil union laws are being debated in the states as LGBT political power begins to be recognized. Gay and lesbian voices are being heard in the media and throughout corporate America. And the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy may get revisited in Congress."

“The Democratic Congress and the already-heated 2008 presidential race could thrust LGBT issues back into the national spotlight,” Berger said. “What are the new hot topics? Where will the community be focused? What are the fights ahead?”

The panel for the evening will be moderated by Sean Bugg, Editor-in-Chief of “Metro Weekly” and will include:

Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign President
Matt Foreman, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director
Chris Barron, Log Cabin Republicans
Mara Keisling, National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director
Herndon Davis, National Black Justice Coalition Communications Director
Pam Spaulding, “Pam’s House Blend” Weblog Editor
Plus more than a dozen invited local and national community leaders.

For more information, contact the NLGJA Washington, DC Chapter at matt@nlgjadc.org.

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association to Examine "The Gay Factor" in Upcoming Elections

2006-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:

Chip Lewis, 202-332-9521

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association to Examine "The Gay Factor" in Upcoming Elections

NLGJA and National Press Club to Present "Newsmaker" Event on Oct. 25, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) and the National Press Club will present "The Gay Factor: How Marriage Amendments and the Foley Fallout will Affect the Election," a mediabriefing at the National Press Club on Oct. 25 at 10:00 AM.

"Gay issues were already playing a role in the 2006 elections before the scandal around former Congressman Mark Foley erupted," said Matthew Berger, NLGJA Washington, DC Chapter President. "Now it's at the forefront. This briefing will examine the role the same-sex marriage amendments in six states and the Foley fallout will have on voters this November."

Panelists will include Jonathan Rauch, author of "Gay Marriage: Why it is Good for Gays, Good for Straights and Good for America;" Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy and a co-author of "The Case for Marriage;" and Bob Benenson, Politics Editor for Congressional Quarterly. The panel will be moderated by Geneva Overholser of the Missouri School of Journalism Washington Bureau.

NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.