by Joe Siegel

NGLJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists and The Curve Foundation announced on July 9 the recipients of the Curve Award for Emerging Journalists. The recipients are Maura Barrett, Ashley Dye, Catalina Gaitán, Zakiya Gibbons and Josie Norris. 

The award, sponsored by The Curve Foundation, which publishes Curve Magazine, provides financial support to emerging journalists whose work fosters fair and accurate coverage and elevates the voices of LGBTQ+ women, trans and nonbinary people, according to the groups.

“We are thrilled to recognize these outstanding emerging journalists who are pioneering the future of LGBTQ+ storytelling,” said NLGJA Executive Director Adam Pawlus. “Their work not only highlights the important stories of our time but also paves the way for a new wave of journalists committed to fearless and impactful reporting.”

Barrett is an NBC News correspondent across all platforms for NBC News and MSNBC. Her work focuses on how policy impacts people, most recently covering abortion rights, environmental policy and climate adaptations, along with the politicization of LGBTQ+ issues.

Dye is the Marshall Project’s audience director, who engages audiences in various ways and amplifying marginalized voices impacted by U.S. criminal justice systems. In newsrooms, Dye works with journalists individually and systemically on matters such as accessibility and improving coverage of marginalized people, particularly LGBTQ+ communities.

Gaitán is a Seattle-based reporter for the Seattle Times. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Gaitán started covering breaking news for the Boston Globe while studying journalism at Emerson College and was hired by the Oregonian as a general assignment reporter in 2020.

Gibbons is an award-winning podcast producer, host, story editor and writer based in Brooklyn. Gibbons investigates and explores human behavior, emotions, and culture through storytelling and conversation. Gibbons is a co-founder of the POC in Audio Directory, a resource created to fight the lack of racial diversity in the audio industry.

Norris is a queer trans documentary photographer based in San Antonio. Their love of storytelling images was inspired by hours of studying family photos and National Geographic magazines. Norris is drawn to short and long-form stories exploring themes of belonging and identity.

The Curve Award for Emerging Journalists includes a $5,000 cash award and access to professional development opportunities. The awardees will form a cohort and work with mentors to build skills and foster an active support network. The Curve Award for Emerging Journalists will be presented annually and nominations for the 2025 award will become available next spring.

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Volume 26
Issue 6