NLGJA Student Central > NLGJA Student Project

About the Student Project

Taking place August 19-24 in Washington, DC, NLGJA's 2008 Student Project is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students to refine their skills, build their portfolios and expand their professional networks during the country's only gathering of LGBT journalists and news media professionals. Students are paired with professional mentors to report, photograph and design the daily news of NLGJA's National Convention.

Teaming up with professional print and online journalists from a variety of backgrounds, Print/Online Project participants write, edit and produce NLGJA Insight —the convention's daily newspaper—and its online counterpart. Their work is published and distributed daily to convention attendees.

Working with mentors from ABC News and other industry professionals, Video Project students write, shoot and edit segments for a broadcast shown at the convention and streamed on nlgja.org.

Radio Project participants conceive, develop, write, edit and produce their own idea into a multi-media piece that emphasizes audio story telling. Radio experience is helpful, but not required. We’re looking for highly diligent students who are creative, have some journalism experience and want to tell a story across platforms.

Once accepted, NLGJA covers travel, lodging, food and convention registration expenses for each student's attendance in Washington, DC. Additionally, each accepted student is given a free one-year, all-access membership to NLGJA.

Program Eligibility

NLGJA’s Student Project provides real-world experience to registered undergraduate and graduate students who are considering a career in journalism. Working with media professionals during NLGJA's National Convention, students improve their journalism skills while learning about the importance of NLGJA and its objective to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues.

Application Details & Instructions

>> 2008 Student Project Application (PDF)
>> 2008 Student Project Application (Word)

Applications and work samples must arrive in NLGJA’s National Office by Friday, April 11, 2008 to be considered, and acceptance will be announced during the week of April 28, 2008.

If for any reason a student has withdrawn from the project after Friday, May 30, 2008 , they will be required to reimburse NLGJA for the full cost of the airline/train ticket. Please notify NLGJA’s National Office as soon as any conflict arises so that they can either provide assistance or, if a student does need to withdraw, their place can be filled by another eligible candidate.

The 2008 Student Project Coordinators will review your application package. These coordinators are news media professionals hailing from newsrooms and media outlets across the country. Fifteen to 20 students will be selected for the 2008 Student Project, depending on funding.