Ben Dobson Assignment Editor WHDH-TV Boston, MA

"As I can personally attest, the convention just might change how you see the world, how you view the media, and even the next turn your career might take."

 

Jason Bellini Correspondent CBS News on Logo New York, NY

"You're around several hundred other people who consider being gay, and being a journalist, a part of their very essence. Some people say the convention is about making connections. Nothing wrong with that. But what I enjoy most is the feeling of connection to some of the smartest, most talented people in the biz."

 

Deepak Saini News Reporter KCWY News 13 Mills, WY

"NLGJA's Chicago convention helped me land my first dream job. It may have cost me a pretty penny being fresh out of college, but those costs are nothing compared to the success I experience from my job everyday."

 

Lauren Ober Reporter Burlington Free Press Burlington, VT

"What the NLGJA convention has done for me, in addition to helping me get my current job at The Burlington Free Press, is show me that there is an entire community of LGBT journalists out there willing to help their own. When you're paying your dues in a small market, it's great to know that there are LGBT journalists who covered the quilting bees and bake sales of small-town America and lived to tell the tale."

 

Ed Salvato Editor in Chief Out Traveler PlanetOut.Inc New York, NY

"For any gay or lesbian in the media, NLGJA is an invaluable resource. The conference is not only a great place to network, it's also really fun. Add to that great speakers and informative panels, and the NLGJA annual conference is an absolute must-attend event."

 

Randy Lovely Executive Editor The Arizona Republic Phoenix, AZ

“I have attended the NLGJA convention at least a half dozen times, and I always leave feeling empowered and heartened by the experience. Bringing together so many people with a shared life experience to explore how that translates into our professional roles is incredibly powerful. I've gained new friendships, enhanced my journalistic skills—and even hired a few new employees through my affiliation with the organization.”

 

Michael Luongo Freelance Journalist New York, NY

"As a freelancer, I have to constantly make new contacts and keep up with editorial changes across the publishing spectrum. NLGJA's annual convention has been great for getting to know editors at major mainstream and LGBT publications. In fact, I owe having a byline in The New York Times, Bloomberg News and other mainstream outlets directly to contacts I made through the NLGJA's conferences over the years."

 

Jen Christensen Investigative Producer CNN Atlanta, GA

"As someone on the broadcast side of the profession, the convention is a rare opportunity for me to get to know people from the online and print worlds—amazing journalists who bring different insights into how we cover the news. The contacts are fabulous, the friendships will last a lifetime, and the fun...well, the convention really is one of the highlights of my year."

 

Chuck Small Deputy News Editor The News & Observer Raleigh, NC

"The best part of going to NLGJA's annual convention is that you nurture your entire self at once. You get concrete tips about improving your work and furthering your career, you get the chance to network with other professionals and mentor promising student journalists, and—perhaps most important—you remind yourself that you're far from alone in representing the faces of LGBT people to your newsroom and your community."

 

Steve Rothaus Staff Writer The Miami Herald Miami, FL

"At our conventions, I’ve met many wonderful, hard-working people who’ve become very important to me both personally and professionally. I’ll never forget my first convention—New York in 1993. It was exhilarating to meet other journalists who were just like me."