After a brief commotion a few weeks ago when GLAAD removed, then reinstated, its Media Award for blogs, the organization has given further details about how it will honor blogs in the future.
The “Outstanding Blog” award was given from 2011 to 2015 (Mombian was honored with it in 2012), but removed from the lineup of the Media Awards in 2016. I don’t believe this was purposely done to spurn bloggers—in fact, I think more the opposite was true, and GLAAD felt we could now hold our own in the broader categories for digital journalism. Many bloggers, including myself, however, felt there was still a need for specific recognition of independent writers and journalists.
GLAAD listened. Seth Adam, vice president of communication, has explained:
In addition to reinstating the Outstanding Blog category at the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, to be held in 2017, GLAAD will also be recognizing the contributions of the LGBT blogging community at this year’s GLAAD Gala San Francisco, which honors innovators in the Bay Area who advance LGBT acceptance through tech and new media. GLAAD will bring at least one LGBT blogger to the event to represent the blogosphere and accept the recognition. Additional details to be announced this fall. We’re greatly looking forward to paying tribute to the critical work of LGBT bloggers in this on-stage moment.
Kudos to Adam and everyone at GLAAD who was willing to listen and work with bloggers to reach a speedy and happy conclusion. Making these little changes together as an LGBTQ community gives me confidence in our ability to work together for broader changes in the world at large.