Hundreds of LGBTQ+ journalists gathered in Hollywood, California, this past week for the annual NLGJA: Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists conference. As always, the conference was filled with thought-provoking conversations and a look at the industry from the unique lens of LGBTQ+ journalists.
For the first time, News is Out was chosen to present a panel at NLGJA. We were thrilled to share the story of News is Out and our plans for the future with an engaged and curious audience. But more on that later! Here are five big takeaways from this year’s conference.
The election is top of mind for LGBTQ+ journalists
This year’s election played a major role in discussions and was the focus of one of the plenary sessions. Political reporters discussed how they are covering the election, how the atmosphere has changed for journalists in recent years, and how they are tackling important topics like Project 2025, transgender healthcare, reproductive rights, down-ballot races and confronting falsehoods perpetuated by candidates. Even sessions that weren’t directly about the election or politics often ventured into that territory, as LGBTQ+ journalists recognize how integral the election results are to the future safety and security of the community.
Entertainment journalism got the platform it deserved
As a former entertainment journalist, I often felt left out of NLGJA’s past programming, so I was excited to see entertainment coverage elevated this year. Several panels focused on the importance of queer and trans representation in the media we consume and the reporters who cover it. A plenary session about covering the red carpet featured familiar faces like Tre’Vell Anderson and Marc Malkin, who use the carpet and their media interviews to offer an inside look at the power of Hollywood.
AI is on everyone’s minds
Like most conferences in recent years, artificial intelligence was a major topic. I’ve attended many discussions about what AI will mean to the journalism industry, but this year’s plenary session, “An AI Earthquake: The Landscape Ahead,” was one of the best I’ve encountered. Sponsored by the Ford Foundation and moderated by Professor Michael Ananny, panelists Gina Chua, Ina Fried and Sisi Wei tackled the benefits and fears of a future with AI with clarity and candor. Yes, AI will likely affect jobs in journalism — it already has — but we can also harness it to make our tasks more efficient, carry our messages further and streamline our days.
People want to know more about News is Out
On the News is Out panel, I was joined by Bay Area Reporter Publisher Michael Yamashita, Tagg Magazine Publisher Sondra Morris and Dallas Voice Editor Tammye Nash. We weren’t sure what to expect, but we had a packed house of interested journalists, who were curious about what we do. We shared our strengths and challenges, key achievements and plans for the future, and fielded thoughtful questions from our peers. Afterward, several attendees stayed to ask more questions. There was a lot of excitement and curiosity about News is Out, and we were thrilled to share our passion about this growing collaboration. One attendee even compared News is Out to the early days of The Associated Press, which we took as a huge compliment.
The future of queer journalism is bright
We were delighted to bring our Digital Equity Fellows to NLGJA this year. A first-time experience for most of them, they attended panels, met with recruiters and connected with other early-career journalists throughout the event. I beamed with pride to see them all representing News is Out, doing their own kinds of coverage, and bonding over their shared experiences. There were more early-career journalists at this year’s conference than I’ve seen in other years, and they were leading panels and asking important questions throughout.
“NLGJA was an amazing experience,” said News is Out and Tagg Magazine fellow Victoria Vega. “It was great to meet the other fellows, learn from industry professionals, and be energized to continue creating media. My favorite panel was the NBCU Smartphone Shooting When News Breaks. It was great to understand the power of a device we carry in our pockets daily.”
“The best part of NLGJA was that it made me feel hopeful and not alone,” said News is Out and Washington Blade fellow Henry Carnell. “Sometimes it can be very hard being a young trans and queer journalist. Being surrounded by so many incredible LGBTQIA storytellers was empowering!”
Despite rumors of the industry’s demise, these journalists are already making a difference and forging their own paths.
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