NLGJA 2026 National Convention

Discover what makes an AI story worth telling and why most aren't. Not every AI story deserves a headline. Learn how journalists cut through the noise to find compelling stories about people, business and the real-world impact of emerging technology. Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their own story ideas and receive feedback on what makes them newsworthy.

We are living in the podcast era where audio and video formats shape how stories are shared, experienced and trusted across platforms. From podcasts and video podcasts to YouTube and social video, these mediums have become essential tools for journalists, creators, and storytellers seeking deeper connection with audiences. This session takes a closer look at audio and video work through the lens of queer narratives, format, and creative approach. The panel brings together perspectives from journalism, platform building, and modern creator culture to examine how queer stories evolve across formats while maintaining trust, care, and responsibility to their communities. Attendees will learn how to translate lived experience into compelling audio and video, select formats that best support both message, and audience and think intentionally about tone, structure and audience connection. The panel will also examine discoverability, distribution and sustainability — offering insight into how queer voices reach audiences across platforms in ways that feel authentic. Designed for journalists, creators, students and media professionals at any stage, this session offers practical tools and guiding principles for navigating the podcast era with intention, creativity and inclusivity.

With anti-trans ballot initiatives emerging as the latest front in the fight against LGBTQ+ rights — and millions of dollars flooding into misleading anti-trans advertising — what responsibility does the media have in ensuring voters are accurately informed about trans rights on the ballot this midterm election? Join leading strategists from Colorado and Missouri — two states facing ballot initiatives this year — alongside advocates from the Transgender Law Center for a timely conversation on the media’s critical role in shaping public understanding, countering misinformation and equipping voters with the facts they need to make informed decisions.