By TJA in roundups — Mar 8, 2024

New TJA Style Guide resources and journalism opportunities

We've updated our Stylebook & Coverage Guide entries on the deaths of trans people, crimes involving trans people, and anti-trans legislation by adding the following resources:

Have a question? Want to get in touch about a story? Email styleguide@transjournalists.org to reach our style guide editor and team.

Misinformation Watch
Member Spotlights
Journalism Events
Opportunities for TJA Members
TJA Updates
Job Listings
Thanks to our Supporters
Journalism Opportunities
Journalism Resources
What We're Reading

Misinformation Watch

No evidence of rising LGBTQ+ violent extremism or 'trans terrorism'
from PolitiFact
How GOP lawmakers use misinformation about transgender Utahns to rally support in Legislature from The Salt Lake Tribune
LGBTQ+ media broke details about Nex Benedict’s gender identity. Mainstream media reacted slowly from Poynter
“Is there a law against lying?” Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik refuses to remove post accusing innocent trans woman of school shooting from Media Matters for America
Actually Nothing: The Non-Starter Non-Story of the WPATH Files from Assigned Media & Fact Check: 216 Instances Of Factual Errors Found In Right-Wing "WPATH Files" Document from Erin in the Morning
Washington’s Parents Rights Initiative Would Do Nothing, or Nothing Good, Experts Say from The Stranger

Member Spotlights

Provided by Rascal.

TJA members Lin Codega and Rowan Zeoli have teamed up with Chase Carter to start Rascal, an independent outlet covering tabletop roleplaying. The journos are veterans of io9, Polygon, and Dicebreaker.

Why they founded Rascal: Alternative. Independent. Roguelike.

Lin, Rowan, and Chase are three bardpunk dirtbag tabletop roleplaying game journos who decided that if they wanted to keep reporting on the gaming industry they had two choices: Write free or die.

Read Rascal to learn more.

More updates from TJA members

Seattle Gay News editor Renee Raketty has written about her experiences defending press freedom and the right to free assembly. Raketty was a plaintiff in a landmark class action lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Washington against the City of Seattle for excessive use of force against journalists and civilian medics during protests against police brutality and racial injustice in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. Read more about the recent impact of the lawsuit in Real Change News.

Freelance journalist Nick Hadika Mwaluko's latest collection, Str8 Up Queer African is out from micropress Scientists and Poets. The collection of essays, stories, and poems explores Nick's experiences as a trans Tanzanian-American, "capturing the immense creativity and resilience of those living at the crossroads of multiple marginalized identities," writes the publisher. The book is available for purchase on Lulu.

Freelance writer and editor Julie Kliegman's new book, Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes, is a deep look into how even the best athletes struggle with and persevere through mental illness. You can purchase a signed copy from Astoria Bookshop.

Sports reporter Frankie de la Cretaz made the "notable stories of 2022" list in the 2023 edition of The Year's Best Sports Writing. Read the Washington Post piece mentioned.

TJA members: Want us to include your work in the member spotlights section? Let us know.

Journalism Events

Join NLGJA's LA chapter in West Hollywood for an inspiring and educational chat with local trans and nonbinary journalists who are using their skills to create community and empower fellow queer folks in media. Attendees will have a chance to learn about the speakers, the organizations they support and work with, and how to be an advocate while navigating the journalism industry. What can newsroom leaders do to identify and remove barriers to editorial careers for queer journalists and storytellers, and how can we all create opportunities to highlight and celebrate queer joy?

⏰ March 21, 6 p.m. PT
📍 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046
✍️ Register on Eventbrite

Opportunities for TJA members

Members of the Trans Journalists Association are invited to attend Career Day at the National Press Club on Friday, March 22, and connect with media employers in the D.C. area.

TJA members can register at the discounted NPC members rate. Get the discount code on the members site [members-only login].

From 9am to 4pm, participants will have direct access to top recruiters from the Associated Press, Bloomberg, Nexstar Media Group, the Washington Post, and other newsrooms, as well as representatives from journalism graduate programs including Georgetown and Mizzou. The event also offers free professional headshots and job search training sessions.

TJA Updates

Annual Report

Learn more about our recent work and impact on the journalism industry – plus opportunities to support our growth – in our 2023 Annual Report.

Job Listings

Check out our jobs board for openings from Oregon Public Broadcasting and Defector Media.

Thanks to Our Supporters

We're excited to announce two new sponsors for upcoming events and programs, as well as smaller-scale support for our members!

Thank you to the Knight Foundation for their $10,000 gift to sponsor the TJA's trans coverage track at the upcoming Investigative Reporters & Editors conference. Their sponsorship will help bring TJA speakers and members to the event.

About Knight Foundation

"We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers."

Thank you to audiochuck for becoming a major sponsor of our work with a $20,000 gift. Their general support will bolster our efforts to provide services and professional development opportunities, as well as support our growth.

About audiochuck

"audiochuck is an Indianapolis-based media company known for its chart-topping shows, including the #1 true crime podcast, Crime Junkie. Since its inception by Founder, Ashley Flowers, audiochuck has racked up over 2 billion downloads and garnered a worldwide audience. Advocacy is at the heart of audiochuck’s work as they continue to seek out opportunities to give back in their own backyard of Indiana and across the globe."

Thank you to The Open Notebook for donating six copies of The Craft of Science Writing to our members interested in science and environment reporting!

Thank you to OpenNews for supporting our TJA bowling social at the NICAR conference in Baltimore!

Learn more about opportunities to support the TJA's work and charitable sponsorships of our trans coverage track at the Investigative Reporters & Editors conference.

P.S. TJA members and friends are welcome to our bowling social [members-only link].

Journalism Opportunities

Fellowships & Programs

Applications for the International Women's Media Foundation Newsroom Safety Across America initiative in Pennsylvania are open through 3/6. This in-person training will prepare local reporters ahead of the 2024 elections.
Applications are now open for the 2024 cohort of the Online News Association's Women's Leadership Accelerator. The ONA Women’s Leadership Accelerator is a six-month intensive program that supercharges the leadership and management skills of leaders who are pushing digital innovation. Each year we welcome a cohort of women and non-binary individuals representing a range of backgrounds, expertise, and newsrooms around the globe. The deadline for applications (including recommendation letters) is Friday, March 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Surveys

The Institute for Independent Journalists' Journalism Layoffs Census

Stay in touch

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Journalism Resources

Resources for covering violence against trans and nonbinary people

Take care to avoid making assumptions or spreading misinformation about both the victims and the causes of violence, especially while information is still emerging.

Trans Journalists AssociationTJA

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