The media industry is changing and so is its job market. That means competition for all of those glamorous New York City jobs is more fierce than a room full of hungry America's Next Top Model hopefuls. Long story short, your professional career has already started. You should already be making those off-campus connections and having those off-campus experiences that will set you apart in an increasingly sophisticated pool of job applicants. So start now. Start here. NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students that works within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. We have student opportunities and resources for everyone, and when you're sitting in your first off-campus job interview, your résumé will thank you.


Leroy F. Aarons: That's a name you should underline and highlight. He dedicated his life to LGBT issues in the media, and this scholarship is in his honor, offering up to $5,000 in tuition assistance to an LGBT student planning a career in journalism.

During her life Kay Longcope trusted in her talent and in who she was. Her vision became The Texas Triangle, a statewide LGBT newspaper. A scholarship in her honor will allow an LGBT student journalist of color to pursue their dreams. Now's your chance. Dream Texas big.

When he started NLGJA, Roy Aarons was the executive editor of The Oakland Tribune. What better place to make your own start? The Leroy F. Aarons Newsroom Internship is a ten-week, paid internship at The Oakland Tribune designed to give you the real-world experience you need.

Everyone and their dog is talking about "hands-on experience" outside of lecture halls and student media, but how do you get it? Let NLGJA's Student Project put you ahead of the pack (and take you to our annual convention, too).

So you have 456 Facebook friends, and somehow, you're also directly connected to both Al Gore and the lead singer of The Killers. Join NLGJA and start building your professional network. You'll make connections that will propel your career.

Textbooks don't always tell you everything. Check out NLGJA's publications and resources for the full story on LGBT coverage issues. There's a stylebook supplement, podcasts and even a program that can bring NLGJA to your campus.
 

NLGJA's 2009 Student Project convened 8 college students from around the country to report the news of the organization's 2009 National Convention & 6th Annual LGBT Media Summit, held September 10-13 in the Montreal, QC. Visit NLGJA Insight for extensive coverage by our print, radio and online students.

Is Your Professional Development on Track? Be Sure to Plan it Out
Most budding journalists find that once the initial cycle of professional education is complete, the first thought that crosses the mind in, "Where will I find my first job?" Just getting a foot in the door seems a heady enough ambition for many qualified graduates, let alone creating a career map.
Preparing For a Challenging
Yet Rewarding Career
I should have gone to law school. At least that's what people tell me when they hear that I'm a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, but that doesn't stop strangers I meet from divining my future. It will be a hard, impoverished life, they say, complete with a rope belt around my waist and deep crow's feet radiating from the corners of my eyes as a somatic testament to making the wrong decision.
Want to Work For Yourself?
Here's How to Court Your Editor
The life of a freelancer seems bucolic at first glance — working from home, focusing on assignments you love, setting your own office hours. Sounds fabulous so far. But then you have to deal with someone like me: An editor. We’re the ones you have to convince to give you work. Given the broad range of editors’ temperaments, it’s a challenge that begins anew with each publication. It may seem daunting when you think of all those magazines, newspapers and Web sites you want to break into .
Closet Holds No Appeal For J-School Student
I have been out longer than I have been a practicing journalist. My "official" coming out took place when I was a sophomore in high school. I don't know why, but there was no choice in the matter. "Faking the funk" just was not an option anymore. I just was not like normal "guys" my age, and I knew it. With the help of a few close friends, I realized there was nothing wrong with my homosexuality.