NLGJA 2026 National Convention

Every great journalist has at least one story idea that deserves more than just day-to-day coverage, but how do you scale your daily reporting skills into that beautiful 80,000-word manuscript? This panel of journalist-turned-authors and publishing insiders will demystify how you can take that leap to long-form narrative. We will break down how to evaluate your ideas for book-length viability, map out a compelling narrative arc, and help you think about how to write a non-fiction book proposal that grabs literary agents’ attention, and also talk about how to do it all while you’re balancing that 9-to-5. You’ll walk away with a practical roadmap to transform your beat reporting into a published book.

The Bay Area is one of the queerest places in the world, and KQED’s coverage reflects that — from arts and culture to politics, climate and community. But with such a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ population, there’s no single queer perspective. Join KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero for a lively conversation with the journalists and editors who tell these stories, bringing their own identities and experiences to the work. Hear from a panel of reporters as they discuss how they cover queer communities, navigate differing viewpoints, and shape the stories that define the Bay Area. We will also discuss how to address LGBTQ+ issues in every beat area, from climate to culture to government to family systems.

Outsports.com has been the leader in LGBTQ+ coverage of the Olympics for nearly two decades. Its “Team LGBTQ” list of out athletes at the Olympics every two years drives coverage. We will share insights about covering out athletes in Olympic sports, just months after the 2026 Winter Olympics and two years ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While it may be two years out, American media has already begun their coverage of these Olympics, with its massive expectations.