Journalist of the Year

Jason Bellini is a correspondent for CBS News on LOGO, and is the first anchor for MTV’s new channel for the LGBT community. Before joining CBS News on LOGO, Bellini served four years as a CNN news correspondent where he covered the world’s conflict regions, doing three rotations in Iraq. During 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bellini reported as one of CNN’s embedded journalists. He spent months in New York covering the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as the crisis evolved into an international war on terrorism, a story he also covered from Afghanistan.

“It is notable that Jason is being recognized for his work,” said NLGJA President Eric Hegedus. “The stories he relates are, of course, topical and enterprising. But they come to fruition in a unique manner: He’s really a ‘mainstream’ media journalist whose work appears on a LGBT media outlet. Jason tackles some singular challenges along the way – and excels in the process.”