For Immediate Release: February 18, 2016
Media Contact: Bach Polakowski
202-588-9888 or Bach@nlgja.org

Washington, D.C. – The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is proud to announce that ABC News Correspondent Gio Benitez and ESPN Senior Writer & ABC News Contributor LZ Granderson will co-host its 21st annual New York Benefit: Headlines & Headliners on Thursday, March 31.

Each year, the star-studded event raises tens of thousands of dollars for the organization’s programs, including those that provide scholarships to aspiring LGBT journalists. More than 350 journalists, news executives, dignitaries and allies attend this event each year in what has become one of New York City’s must-attend media events.

“This year, NLGJA will double the fun with two hosts for Headlines & Headliners,” said NLGJA Executive Director Adam Pawlus. “I’m happy to welcome Gio Benitez for his first time as an emcee and delighted to welcome back NLGJA Lifetime Member LZ Granderson to emcee this night of networking and a highlight of NLGJA’s social calendar.”

At the event, Benitez and Granderson will present NLGJA’s 11th Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship and the 6th Kay Longcope Scholarship.

Award-winning reporter Gio Benitez is the host of Fusion’s edition of “Nightline.” He is a ABC News correspondent and reports for all ABC News programs including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” and “20/20.” Benitez extensive range of stories include but not limited to the coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing, controversial religious freedom laws that were deemed discriminatory in Indiana and Arkansas and the Alabama child held hostage underground in an eight-day standoff. Prior to reporting he was an investigative producer at WFOR in Miami.

NLGJA’s 2011 Journalist of the Year, LZ Granderson is a senior writer for ESPN and an ABC News Contributor. He often writes columns for ESPN The Magazine with social commentary on the intersections of race, gender, politics and sports. Granderson is a former Hechinger Institute fellow at Columbia University. He has been recognized with numerous awards by the Online News Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and NLGJA.

Headlines & Headliners is chaired by CNN executive producer Javier Morgado. For more information and ticket information, please visit: https://www.nlgja.org/headlines-headliners.

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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 on the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, visit the organization’s website at https://www.nlgja.org.