Newsroom Outreach Project
Resources > Newsroom Outreach Project > Step by Step

Task List
The Newsroom Outreach Project is a professional development program of NLGJA where members can help other journalists understand issues that affect LGBT individuals and the community. The goal of this training is to ensure fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community. In its simplest form, it is a moderated discussion between a newsroom and its community to uncover stories and concerns.

Here is a task list to bring one to your newsroom. (A PDF version of this page is available here.)

Two or Three Months Out

• Decide you are going to do a Newsroom Outreach Project (NOP) and what topic you might focus on.
• Contact Doug Moore, Missouri Chapter President, Doug Stewart, NLGJA National VP Broadcast or Patty Mattern, NLGJA Programs Oversight Chair for advice and encouragement. (Doug Moore and Doug Stewart have both brought the program into their own newsrooms.)
• Identify members and issues in your community and newsroom who could address the concerns you've identified for your session.
• Check a calendar for possible dates and conflicts. (Keep in mind religious holidays and local events or meetings that might impact attendance.)
• Check with management for permission, logistics and to get approval for timing.

One Month Out

• Secure a conference room or venue.
• Send a newsroom e-mail announcing the meeting.
• Check if people can call in from the field to a conference line.
• Make personal invitations to key members of your newsroom to get the session on their calendar.

Two Weeks Out

• Draft agenda completed and sent around. Our suggestion is to allot 10 minutes per subject and keep the full session to 30- 45 minutes total. This will also allow you to reconfirm with management and your participants.

One Week Out

• Send a reminder e-mail to your newsroom and do a final check-in with your outside participants. Make sure they know where they are going, who to ask for and that they have a phone number where they can reach you the day of the session.

Day of NOP

• Get the following for those who will be speaking:
  • Water
  • Notepads
  • Pens
• Stop by the conference room or venue about 30 minutes prior to the session to be sure lights are on and the door is unlocked.
• Make sure you're available (not on the phone or doing e-mail) when participants arrive. Have a brief introduction ready for the session to kick things off - the introduction at the top of this page can work nicely for that.