QBurgh is thrilled to announce that we’ve joined forces with ten other LGBTQ+ newsrooms across the nation to form the Queer News Network (QNN), a groundbreaking collaboration dedicated to delivering crucial election coverage for the LGBTQ community.
From October 1 to November 12, these newsrooms will spotlight candidates and contribute powerful content to QueerNN.com, the central hub for queer voters and allies throughout the U.S.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Queer News Network,” said Phillip Zonkel, editor and co-founder of Q Voice News in California. “The mission of QNN is to center LGBTQ+ experiences in political narratives, offering fact-based reporting that highlights the profound impact of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments on queer lives. By raising the standard of LGBTQ+ news coverage, this ground-breaking project will empower the community with vital information and hold those in power accountable through truth and visibility.”
QNN is also teaming up with students from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York, creating a student-led newsroom focused on election coverage, amplifying fresh voices in the media.
LGBTQ newsrooms participating in this effort span four regions:
- West: Q Voice News (Los Angeles, CA), LOOKOUT (Arizona), QVegas (Las Vegas, NV), Seattle Lesbian (Seattle, WA)
- Central: Illinois Eagle (Illinois), The Gayly (Oklahoma), Queerency (National)
- South: Queer Kentucky (Kentucky), OUT South Florida (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- Northeast: QBurgh (Pittsburgh, PA), Buckeye Flame (Ohio)
“This is something that is long overdue in LGBTQ+ media, but hasn’t happened because of corporate buyouts, lack of resources, or simply many of our queer newsrooms shuttering their doors,” said Joseph Darius Jaafari, editor in chief and founder of LOOKOUT in Arizona. “We’re excited to help spearhead this and elevate the election reporting being done by our partner newsrooms to show that queer journalism isn’t just niche — it’s imperative to local democracy.”
QNN is governed LOOKOUT in Arizona, QVegas in Nevada, and Q Voice News in California.
QNN’s official website launches on October 1, featuring election overviews, with specific candidate coverage kicking off the week of October 15. Be sure to sign up at QueerNN.com for updates and be the first to know when the site goes live!