Diversity in Media

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

http://www.nlgja.org/

NLGJA works to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues in the media. Furthermore, they provide professional development to members and have yearly conventions to cover a broad spectrum of issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered journalists and media professionals. In addition to furthering the training of their members, NLGJA also provides a stylebook supplement on LGBT terminology to help journalists and media outlets use terms that are more sensitive to the LGBT community, as well as other tools for newsrooms such as a “journalists toolbox” that provides information and strategies for creative, unique, and accurate coverage of the LGBT community.

Founded in 1990, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (http://www.nlgja.org/) is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators, and students working to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. They promote diversity in the newsroom by lobbying for the inclusion of gender identity and expression in non-discrimination policies through their Newsroom for Everyone Campaign (http://www.nlgja.org/workplace/newsroom_campaign.htm) and Newsroom Outreach Project (http://www.nlgja.org/resources/nop.htm), as well as by providing their membership with additional professional training. In doing so NLGJA not only calls for more opportunities for LGBT journalists, but provides capable candidates to fill those positions. They also offer a host of materials and services to help straight journalists cover the LGBT community with sensitivity and accuracy, such as NLGJA’s Stylebook Supplement on LGBT Terminology (http://www.nlgja.org/resources/stylebook.html) and Journalists Toolbox (http://www.nlgja.org/resources/toolbox.html). All of these activities and resources contribute to the goal of a news media that not only sees and understands underrepresented and underreported communities, but can report issues relevant to these communities with clarity and fairness.