Last weekend, nearly 250 LGBT and ally journalists and marketing individuals convened in San Francisco to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.
Amid the networking, lunch plenaries and panels about new media was an underlying conversation: How do we address questions of relevancy as an organization when so many LGBT individuals are out in the newsroom? And why don’t we, as an organization, speak out on issues?
Both questions need thoughtful consideration and response.
Regarding the ongoing discussion of relevancy, the truth is NLGJA will be relevant at least until LGBT folks have full equality under the law and are treated equally in society.
Right now, the military does not allow openly gay servicemembers, employers can fire you for being gay or transgender in most states, and only a handful of states offer same-sex marriage.
While mainstream media outlets may cover LGBT issues with increasing frequency, they generally don’t cover the issues with the insight or depth that LGBT reporters and/or media do. Frankly, the LGBT community can’t expect the mainstream media to provide fair and accurate coverage without education, from inside the newsroom and from the outside.
As to speaking out on issues, this has long been a thorny one. As journalists, we are supposed to give an unbiased accounting of the world — which is impossible. We will always see the world through whatever experiences we have had. The trick is to acknowledge one’s biases and then do the best you can to be objective. As a journalist, you are not supposed to be involved with whatever subject you might cover. So, a political reporter shouldn’t also be a Democratic activist. Some newsrooms forbid reporters to donate to political causes, campaign for candidates or even have political affiliations.
As an organization, this is one reason NLGJA doesn’t take an official stance on issues that members likely have an opinion on, such as marriage equality or employment nondiscrimination protections. If the organization took a position, a member could conceivably lose his/her job for being part of an activist group.
It’s a fine balance to strike: For gays and lesbians, sometimes the issues are very personal (marriage equality, employment protections, adoption) and there is little hope of separating yourself from what you are covering.
When covering gay issues, LGBT reporters can gain access to, conceive of new angles and provide insight in places that mainstream communities wouldn’t even consider.
LGBT journalists still need resources to educate inside the newsroom. And at its core, NLGJA is a professional organization, not an activist organization.