Kevintionalthinking’s Weblog
Just another WordPress.com weblogThat’s the end?
While the NLGJA Convention ended a week ago, I needed some time to digest all the emotions that I felt at the conclusion. In many ways, the NLGJA Convention was like a family reunion of only relatives you like. There are so many people to catch up with, to talk with and to get to know — not to mention all the information there is to digest too! Immediately when all this information was overwhelming me, we all began to hug and say our farewells. At this point, my family stopped by for a visit and I spent a lovely day doing touristy stuff with them.
Although the Convention is technically over until we hit Montreal next year, I don’t see it as an end so much as a new beginning. We have done a lot of work over the course of this year and have a lot more yet to do.
In the meantime, I will be posting some notes from the conference as I review them and urge you to email me at kevin.in.media@gmail.com when you review your notes as well. I will be happy to post recaps of any sessions you have or just listen to the podcasts, which are linked on the right. Till we meet again… xx
No longer “holding out for a hero”
Gail Shister, Photo By JasonSmith.com
Today was a whirlwind! I made it to breakfast on time after 4 hours of sleep and spent time speaking to some of our wonderful exhibitors. After which I test drove a Cadillac (thereby earning $25 for the Student Project) and then went to put on a warmer shirt. As I was going up the stairs I ran into a friend whom I followed into lunch. We sat at a table with two people whom I felt honored to be in the same room with let alone to sit AT the same table – Gail Shister and Bob Witeck.
Shister and Witeck have always been people I had admired. Growing up in Philadelphia, Gail Shister was a well known name in my house as she has been writing about television about as long as I have been watching it and doing so at The Philadelphia Inquirer, the most trusted newspaper in the Philadelphia region. During my time in Philadelphia, I never had the pleasure of working with Shister directly but have known several people over the years who have always raved about her. I ended up reading her column quite a bit when I was younger as I loved her direct delivery and the way you could really hear her voice in her writing.
Bob Witeck was someone whom I had also learned about in my Philadelphia days. I was a newly minted out man when I started volunteering for the Human Rights Campaign throughout PA, NJ and DE. I did a lot of community outreach and served as a membership spokesperson for that region. During this time in my life, I was learning communication at DeSales University, where I was taught the importance of giving back to your community. Witeck-Combs Communications are known for the way they give back to the community. They are known as a leader in serving the LGBT market’s communications needs. Their work with HRC and the way Witeck-Combs was always contributing to the LGBT community had put them on my radar for sometime.
At last year’s Convention, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob Witeck for the 2007 Convention blog and I was charmed at how friendly and approachable this man was. Over the past year, we became closer friends so I was looking forward to catching up when I sat at his table for lunch. When Shister joined us, I was awestruck because two of my professional role models were sitting right by me as we broke bread together. Witeck was the type of communications professional I always wanted to be and Shister is the kind of journalist I always wanted to be. It was breathtaking to watch Witeck introduce Shister as she, along with Richard Goldstein, were inducted into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame.
Later in the day, I attended another wonderful workshop on new media (which I will try to post notes in the near future) followed by a discussion about how publications choose which crime cases to cover. Cathy Renna spoke about the Matthew Shepard case and between listening to her and the other panelists discuss why that was covered and listening to Witeck and Shister speak, I felt like the man I was 10 years ago. I remembered a part of myself that had been long forgotten.
My mama always taught me not to look back but rather to focus on what lies ahead. However, ever since I listened to the damn Footloose soundtrack, I have been “holding out for a hero.“ Today, I realized I can stop holding out for my heroes because I had the opportunity to speak to two of them and with the energy they exude and the way they remain so true to their voice in their words and actions, I now realize that I can be the hero I was holding out for. So, I’m going to keep shooting for the moon because even if I miss, I’ll still be among the stars, as I was today (and that’s even motivation but the Bonnie Tyler song still helps!)
Thank you both for your inspiration!
A night on the Town
Last night, the NLGJA rooftop party was a raging success followed by a night on the “Town.” While out, I ran into a friend of mine from when I was a teenager. Around 2 a.m. this morning, I receive a text message from the NY Times with breaking news: Obama chose Sen. Biden as his running mate – a fact that was the topic of conversation all day yesterday! The real testament to social media was what followed though…a barrage of emails and txt messages from friends all over who wanted me to be the first to know. When I joked about this, a New York City-based NLGJA member said to me, “The media is more than a job, its a lifestyle” and boy, is that true!
I look forward to another exciting day in DC and if my parents are reading this, I want to wish them a very happy anniversary! Love you both.
A quick update…
It’s almost 8pm today and man, I am wiped! Its been a busy day thus far filled with courses in emerging technologies and mobile media, a thought-provoking lunch discussion about women and the glass ceiling, a guy who tried setting me up with his Irish mother and some poolside catching up with industry friends.
I gotta admit I learned a lot today in the sessions and rekindled many professional relationships. Tomorrow, I am hoping to test drive one of the GM Hybrids since they are donating $25 to the student project for every ride. Tonight, I was invited to a rooftop party then I think my roommate wants to go clubbing. I’ll keep you posted.
xoxo Gossip Girl (O.K., I REALLY need to stop watching that show! lol)
Ever visit the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo Signorile, Photo By JasonSmith.com
Over the course of the weekend, expect to see more photos as I become more skilled at WordPress.“When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
the Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon – do not fear them;
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
The fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
If you do not carry them within your soul,
If your soul does not set them before you.Pray that the road is long,
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy,
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.Always keep Ithaca on your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would never have set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wish as you have become, with so much experience,
You must already have understood what Ithacas mean.”- “Ithaca” by Constance Cavafy
E Pluribus Unum (or why I have faith in our organization)
Did you ever meet someone who you knew that you liked from the moment you met that person? Call it kismet, call it an instant connection, call it serendipity, call it whatever you will but deep down you just know that no matter how long of a time passes that connection will not fade? Whenever I walk into a NLGJA meeting, I get this feeling. Yesterday was no exception.
In a sense, yesterday was like a high school reunion for me. Friends old and new came out of the woodwork. For weeks preceding this Convention, I received several “can’t wait to see you” emails and “let’s do lunch” offers as the countdown began for the 2008 Convention. When I arrived in DC, I was a bit of a curmudgeon having gone all day on approximately two hours of sleep the night before. The journey was worth it though because when I arrived and saw all these friendly faces from the past. For example, I caught up with someone who knew me years ago when I was a newly outed Catholic evangelist. We haven’t seen each other in three years and that his first comment was “your hair is so short” since waaay back then I was still holding onto the “grunge look” like someone who would have been friends with Bill & Ted. After he finished critiquing my hair, we decided to pop out and play catch-up over coffee where we discussed everything from Katie Holmes to unsubstantiated rumors about yesteryear to potential VP picks for both the candidates. Later, we were joined by one of my old friends from the days when I lived in Manhattan who always knows how to make the people around him smile. He introduced us to a friend of his who happened to walk by and the four of us laughed well into the afternoon about silly stuff and the “old days.”
As the day went on, I listened to the plenary speakers and was really impressed with the discussion about the amount of entertainment news coverage that has gone mainstream. Later, as the night went on, I saw more and more people whom I had not seen in ages (well, at least for a year) and we picked up where we left off as well.
You are probably wondering why I am sharing all of this with you. The reason is because there is a business lesson to be learned here…a lesson I’ve learned as a sophomore in college. That is, business about the relationships you build. Many of you may have heard me say how I believe that NLGJA has a long road to tow and I do believe that implicitly, however, what I was reminded of today was the strength of the community that we have built. How often can you run into someone you haven’t seen in 5-10 years and catch up as if a week had not passed? How often do you go to a Conference and debate current events with like-minded and goodlooking people who share your passion for your career? To me, that is what this Conference is about. It is about building a community that can make a difference. It is about working together and achieving shared goals. It is about our community going mainstream while maintaining our unique identity.
No matter how you look at it our community is a group of many working toward one common goal. Or to put it in the words of our forefathers, E Pluribus Unum (translation: out of many, one.) While you might hear me say that we could benefit from more organization and more internal communication from time to time, one thing that you will never see/hear me doubt is the amount of spirit that exists in this organization….and that’s what makes this organization special. That’s why I have faith in the future of our association because if we can assemble this many people united in a common goal, imagine what else we could do. What used to be our national motto, now applies to our national association and that’s why its important to make sure you vote in today’s board elections and to provide the board with your feedback on the direction we should go. So, get out there and vote and thank you for being a part of the NLGJA community.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, its the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
The best laid plans…
It has been said that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and while Gladys Knight may have been taking a Midnight Train to Georgia, I took a red-eye flight from Long Beach, Calif. and two subways to get here in time for the start of the LGBT Media Summit. An hour before my flight was to leave the JetBlue Terminal, I realize how early it really is (and that the moon will still be up when I arrive in Dulles Int’l Airport.) I had passed through the security gate in record time and began to look for the only thing that I yearn for on a daily basis…Wifi! 
My laptop is pretty old and definitely due for an update but it works for me until I am able to convert fully into an “i-Life” of MAC neophytes. (Hey, I already admitted I was in a nerd in the Fall issue of NLGJA Outlook!) I scan/cruise the terminal looking for an outlet, the only thing that could help me to satisfy my constant craving. I finally spot an empty seat by an outlet and feel my heart jump for joy, however, my elation is short-lived when I approach to find a young woman guarding it intently. She looked like a younger version of Lisa Loeb coupled with the demeanor of Amy Winehouse as she threw her i-Phone down on the seat to let me know I wasn’t welcome to sit there.
As I continued my search, I saw the only thing that could get my attention more than Eric Himan shirtless…another outlet complete with a cute flight attendant sitting next to it. I walk over and take out my computer as I start a conversation about how delicious ice cream is with the flight attendant and he tries to persuade me to start a new career as a flight attendant. As I continue to pull out my laptop and try to act suave, I realize that I left its power cord at home and will need to figure out a new way to blog at the NLGJA’s LGBT Media Summit & Annual Convention - a task that was made harder by the fact that my BlackBerry broke earlier in the week!
I get my mind off things as I watch Project Runway and Shear Genius on the flight hoping that this will not be indicative of what is to come. The best laid plans of mice and men might often go awry but, luckily, I have always been a maverick in my own right and was replugged in in record time.
3,000 miles to go…
It’s 9:30 a.m. and my bags are getting packed, last minute errands are being run, and I just ifnished writing my itinerary for the DC trip. They say the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, well, I should be there in three giant steps then considering I’m currently a nation away.
I have some last minute errands to run before double checking that I have my phone, medicine, business cards and credit cards with me. I am looking forward to catching up with a bunch of old friends and many new ones too! I might be MIA for the rest of today due to the travel planned but expect more to come tomorrow, when the real fun begins.
…and so it begins!
Hi folks,
Welcome back to the NLGJA Blog for the 2008 Convention and LGBT Media Summit! My name is Kevin and I will be your tour guide this week as I take you through the ins and outs of the various going-ons at this year’s Convention in Washington, DC. I cannot believe that the week of the convention is already upon us as it seems like just yesterday we were in San Diego for the 2007 Convention.
As I gear up to get things ready for this year, I’m dropping my stuff off at the dry cleaners, taking that extra yoga class and contacting my hotel roommate via Facebook. In many ways, it feels like the first week of college albeit 10 years later. Every year, NLGJA coordinates a room share program that helps match people who are willing to share a hotel room with one another. I didn’t do it last year but since it is my “job” to get the full Convention experience, I figured that I would participate this year.
I was matched with Sean Bartel, a Cincinnati-based broadcast journalist, who came to visit me in LA a few weeks ago. He’s a cute guy with a good sense of humor and the oddest Facebook status messages I ever read. Now, let’s hope we don’t kill each other! haha
I’ll be updating this blog shortly with more information as I prepare for the convention and feel free to shoot me an email at kevin.in.media@gmail.com in the meantime. xx
