Q - L I V I N G
NLGJA announces 2006
Excellence in Journalism Award
by Thomas Cashman Avila
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National
Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association
(NLGJA) announced Oct.
3 the recipients of its
Excellence in Journalism
Awards, including its
Journalist of the Tear
honor to be presented to
Jason Bellini of CBS
News on LOGO.
NLGjAs 2006
Excellence in Journalism
Awards and Hall of Fame
Ceremony will be held
on Nov. 8 at Chicago’s
Palmer House Hilton. In
addition to a presenta
tion of all national
Excellence in Journalism
Awards, NLGJAs hosting
Chicago chapter will
honor longtime member Tracy Bairn of the
Windy City Media Group with its Outstanding
Chicago Journalist Award.
“As coverage increases on LGBT issues,
we’re also seeing more sophistication in
reporting,” said NLGJA President Eric
Hegedus.'Tt’s so rewarding that we’re able not
Jason Bellini of CBS News on
LOGO is the recipient of the
Journalist of the Year honor.
only to acknowledge the best work offered by
the industry, but also that NLGjAs efforts as a
viable newsroom resource are making such a
positive impact and are a part of the process.”
NLGjAs Excellence in Journalism Awards
were established in 1993 to fos
ter, recognize and reward excel
lence in journalism on issues
related to the LGBT community.
In addition to Journalist of the
Year, awards will be presented
for HIV/AIDS coverage, written
news, written feature, written
opinion/editorial, radio, televi
sion, photojournalism, new
media, LGBT media and stu
dent journalism.
The NLGJA Journalist of the
Year Award recognizes the out
standing professional achieve
ments of an LGBT journalist
who is a member of NLGJA.
CBS News on LOGO’S Jason
Bellini will accept this award of
distinction on Nov. 8 in Chicago. 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 rota-
winners
tions 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 Sept.
11,2001, terrorist attacks and, as the crisis
evolved into an international war on terror
ism, also covered the story from Afghanistan.
“It is notable that Jason is being recog
nized 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’ meia journalist whose work
appears on an LGBT media outlet. Jason tack
les some singular challenges along the way —
and excels in the process.”
NLGjAs Excellence in Journalism Awards
include $500 first place prizes in 11 separate
categories, as well as a $1,000 first place prize
presented to the winner of the Sarah Pettit
Memorial Award for Excellence in LGBT
Media, a category dedicated to LGBT Media.
All second and third runners-up receive award
certificates.
NLGjAs Excellence in Journalism Awards
are selected by 40 distinguished journalists
from across the country who volunteer their
time to serve as judges. The Journalist of the
Year was selected by faculty members at the
University of Southern California’s Annenberg
School of Journalism.
2006 NLGJA Excellence in
Journalism Awards Winners:
NLGJA Journalist of the Year Award
• Presented to Jason Bellini, CBS News on
LOGO
Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for
Excellence in LGBT Media
• First Place presented to Malinda Lo,
AfterEUen.com
• Second Place presented to Todd Henneman,
The Advocate
• Third Place presented to Karen Ocamb, IN
Los Angeles magazine
NLGJA Excellence in News Writing
Award, sponsored by Hearst
Newspapers
• First Place presented to “From Pain, Family,”
Tina Brown and Elizabeth Hamilton, The
Hartford Courant
• Second Place presented to “Gay Tide,” David
Crary, The Associated Press
• Third Place presented to “PlanetOut Bids Big
for $610 Billion Gay Market,” James A.
Lopata, IN Newsweekly
NLGJA Excellence in Feature Writing,
sponsored by Hearst Newspapers
• First Place presented to “Out Here: Gay Voices
in Hampton Roads,” David Nicholson, Mike
see award on 46
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OCTOBER 21.2006 • Q-NOTES 43