For Immediate Release: February 11, 2016
Media Contact: Bach Polakowski
202-588-9888 or bach@nlgja.org
Washington, DC — Starting today the National Lesbian & Gay Journalism Association will begin accepting applications for their annual Excellence in Journalism Awards. Submissions are due Tuesday, April 19, 2016. For more details on the awards and submission forms see www.nlgja.org/awards.
The NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards were established in 1993 to foster, recognize and reward excellence in journalism on issues related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“NLGJA has seen unprecedented growth in nominations for the Excellence in Journalism awards over the past several years. We expect to continue the growth for this, our 23rd year,” said NLGJA Awards Chair April Hunt, “This year, we plan to expand the honors for LGBT journalists and subjects, to include documentaries, sports coverage and book authorship.”
Work may be submitted for the 2016 NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards in the following categories:
Special recognition awards:
- Journalist of the Year
- Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for the LGBT Journalists of the Year
Print/online awards:
- Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage
- Excellence in Newswriting
- Excellence in Feature Writing
- Excellence in Opinion/Editorial Writing
- Excellence in Sports Writing
- Excellence in Book Writing
- Excellence in Blogging*
- Excellence in Online Journalism
- Excellence in Multimedia
- Excellence in Photojournalism
- Excellence in Student Journalism*
Broadcast/video awards:
- Excellence in Network Television
- Excellence in Local Television
- Excellence in Documentary
- Excellence in Radio
Special Opportunity Awards:
- The Al Neuharth Award for Innovation in Investigative Journalism**
Prize: $5,000, to be awarded to the person or team who best uses innovative approaches for investigative reporting.
*NLGJA members in this category can enter for zero cost, non-members to pay a $15 entry fee.
**NLGJA membership required for entry. There is no cost for entries.
2011 Applications are now available online at www.nlgja.org/awards. Initial publication/broadcast must have occurred in the 2015 calendar year for consideration. Each application requires its own entry fee, though an individual may apply multiple times. NLGJA officers, directors, and those individuals directly involved in the administration and/or selection of the awards are ineligible for consideration. The program is open to all journalists and news organizations.
The awards will be presented throughout the NLGJA National Convention & LGBT Media Summit September 8-11 in Miami, FL. For more information on the convention, visit www.nlgja.org/2016/.
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About the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association
NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from 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. For more information, visit the NLGJA website at www.nlgja.org.