The NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards were established in 1993 to foster, recognize and reward excellence in journalism on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about rules and eligibility here. The Excellence in Journalism Awards are open to anyone, including non-members and journalists who do not identify as LGBTQ+.
Work may be submitted for the 2026 NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards in the following categories:
Special Recognition Awards:
Print/online Awards:
Digital Awards:
Editorial Awards:
Broadcast Awards:
Coverage Awards:
Packaging Awards:
Special Opportunity Awards:
*NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists members may enter a submission in this category for zero cost, and non-members may pay a $15 entry fee. **NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists membership is required for entry. There is no cost for entries.
A limited number of resources are available to those who wish to enter their work for consideration, but are experiencing financial hardship. Please contact awards@nlgja.org with your reasons for requesting financial assistance to be considered. NLGJA will have the final say in determining eligibility.
PLEASE NOTE: The form is in four parts. Complete all information before continuing on to select the Awards Category.
*
This award recognizes the person or team who best uses innovative approaches for investigative reporting; selection is based on the quality and creativity of the work submitted. Accepted media: any digital medium, including online, on air, photography, and video; the entry may be a single piece or a series on a single topic.
Eligibility: You must be a current NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists member to qualify. If you are not a member and would like to submit an entry, simply join here and submit your entry.
Entries must be in the English language and published or aired in the past year.
Any digital medium is accepted, including online, on air, photography and video entries. The entry may consist of a single piece or a series on a single topic.
Please note: For team submissions, you must provide a primary contact as the entrant. This person must have played a lead or key role in the submitted work.
Awarded to a broadcast (video, radio or podcast) journalist responsible but not publicly credited for any or all production elements of a broadcast story package about LGBTQ+ issues, including production, captions, graphics, script editing or overall packaging. Please use 100 or fewer words to indicate in your entry which elements you are responsible for and to what extent, and provide the name and contact information of a supervisor who can verify the depth of your involvement. Please reach out to awards@nlgja.org if you have any questions.
Awarded to a journalist or journalists responsible but not publicly credited for any or all production elements of a print or online story package about LGBTQ+ issues, including any editing, headlines, graphics or overall design. Please use 100 or fewer words to indicate in your entry which elements you are responsible for and to what extent, and provide the name and contact information of a supervisor who can verify the depth of your involvement. Please reach out to awards@nlgja.org if you have any questions.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of bisexual issues.
Submissions should include the working URL for each post and the title of the post, series or package.
This category honors creative use of the Internet to deliver LGBTQ content, and is restricted to material produced exclusively for the Internet.
Entries must be from an independent outlet and not part of a large media outlet. Sites solely promoting political advocacy are ineligible, though opinion work is acceptable. Submissions must be a single blog post or closely planned and related series or package on a single subject. Podcast blog posts are acceptable. Full websites, blogs and unconnected posts are not applicable.
This category honors exceptional books published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year.
Self-published books are only eligible if the publisher publishes the work of multiple authors in addition to their own.
Self-published are not eligible for the award. If digital versions of the books are not available, please contact awards@nlgja.org.
This category recognizes an outstanding columnist. This could be for a one-time column or a body of work.
This category recognizes outstanding critical commentary on subjects relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, including reviews of arts, culture, media, or social issues.
Submissions should demonstrate insightful analysis that goes beyond summary, strong craftsmanship and creativity in writing, clear relevance to LGBTQ+ people, issues, or representation, and a compelling voice that elevates the work.
Entries must be a single article or a closely planned and related series or package on a single subject.
Full websites, blogs, and unconnected articles are not applicable.
Submissions should include the working URL or upload for each article and the title of the post, series or package.
This category recognizes outstanding video produced for digital channels be it for the web, mobile or for social media.
Submissions must be a single segment or closely planned and related set of videos. Electronic submission is required.
Contact Awards@nlgja.org for large file submission guidelines.
This category recognizes outstanding feature length video produced for stand-alone distribution.
Submissions must be a single video segment. A full newscast or multiple unconnected articles are not applicable.
Electronic submission is required. Contact Awards@nlgja.org for large file submission guidelines.
This category honors exceptional feature writing distinguished for its crafting, creativity, and economy of expression.
A feature article, unlike newswriting, should focus on a person, event, or aspect of a major event.
If not published daily, it should be entered in the Non-Daily category.
Submissions must be a single article or a closely related series/package on one subject.
Full websites, blogs, and unconnected articles are not eligible.
Entries must include a working URL or upload and the article title.
A feature article should focus on a person, event, or aspect of a major event. “Non-Daily” refers to the publication frequency.
If published daily, the entry should go in the Feature Writing category.
Submissions must be a single article or closely related series/package on one subject.
This category recognizes outstanding coverage of food or food-related issues.
Entries may be a one-time article or a series.
Entries must be a single article or a closely related series/package on one subject.
Submissions must include a working URL or upload and the article title.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of a health or fitness issue.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of HIV & AIDS.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of international issues. Submissions should include the working URL for each post and the title of the post, series or package.
This category recognizes outstanding video produced for local distribution. Entries are considered “Local Television” if they are first broadcast on a single station or network affiliate.
Submissions must be a single segment or closely planned and related set of segments, such as a series or package on a single subject. A full newscast or multiple unconnected articles are not applicable.
This category honors exceptional long-form articles in print or online publications, reporting on current and relevant events.
Long-form submissions must have a clear narrative, be accurate, well-researched, and not autobiographical or memoir-based.
This category honors use of the Internet, video, slide show, or other media to deliver LGBTQ content, and is restricted to material expressed using more than one media.
Examples include a mainstream newspaper’s LGBTQ-themed section, or online news outlet, etc. Sites solely promoting political advocacy are ineligible, though opinion work is acceptable. Submissions must be a single story or closely related set of stories, such as a series or package on a single subject.
Submissions should include the working URL for each post and the title of the post, series or package. Contact Awards@nlgja.org for large file guidelines.
This category recognizes outstanding video produced for national distribution. Entries are considered “Network Television” if they are produced for a national audience, whether distributed by network, cable or syndication.
This category honors exceptional newswriting in a print or online publication, reporting on current and relevant events.
This category honors exceptional newswriting in a non-daily print or online publication, reporting on current and relevant events.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of nonbinary and/or gender nonconforming issues.
Entries may be from an independent outlet or a large media outlet. Sites solely promoting political advocacy are ineligible, though opinion work is acceptable. Submissions must be a single post or closely planned and related series or package on a single subject. Full websites, blogs and unconnected posts are not applicable.
This category honors exceptional opinion and editorial writing on a print or online newspaper.
Opinion/editorial writing submissions should be limited to articles that express an opinion on a topical issue. Submissions must be a single article or closely planned and related series or package on a single subject. Full websites, blogs and unconnected articles are not applicable.
Submissions should include the working URL or upload (.pdf, .jpg, or similar file type) for each article and the title of the post, series or package.
Photojournalism is the art or practice of communicating news by photographs.
Submissions must include photographic content and a short caption at most.
Entries must be PDFs or image files (JPEG/TIFF) that work across operating systems.
Captions may be embedded or submitted separately.
Submissions must be a single image or a closely related set of images (series/package on one subject).
A working URL or title must be included.
This category recognizes a one-time or ongoing series of podcasts.
If submitting a series, please indicate the episodes and/or timestamps to total 120 minutes maximum to be considered for judging.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of political issues. Submissions should include the working URL for each post and the title of the post, series or package.
This category recognizes outstanding profiles, either one-time or an ongoing series, in narrative or Q&A format.
This category recognizes outstanding audio produced for radio distribution. Audio not distributed via radio may be entered as online journalism, blogging or multimedia.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of the intersection of religion/spirituality and LGBTQ issues.
This category honors exceptional sports writing in a print or online publication.
Submissions should cover an athlete, game, or sporting event.
Entries must be a single article or closely related series/package on one subject.
This category recognizes outstanding work by a student for a campus or student news organization.
Unpublished manuscripts, classroom exercises, and unaired broadcasts do not qualify.
Submissions must include a working URL or file upload and the article title.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of theatre arts. Submissions should include the working URL for each post and the title of the post, series or package.
This category recognizes outstanding one-time or ongoing coverage of transgender issues.
This category recognizes outstanding coverage of travel or travel-related issues.
Entries may be a one-time article or a series. Entries must be a single article or a closely related series/package on one subject.
This category honors an LGBTQ journalist whose exceptional abilities, integrity and distinctive work brought honor to the profession within the past year. This award is not restricted to coverage of LGBTQ issues.
Entries should include no more than five (5) pieces of the individual’s body of work and/or a statement of personal accomplishment.
Submissions should include an upload or URL for each post and the name of the applicant.
This is a body of work award recognizing the contributions of an individual journalist within an LGBTQ media publication.
Print Page