SPOTLIGHT
Behind The Scenes with GLAAD’s
SETH ADAM By Tim Parks
“GLAAD’s work in social and online media is leading the way in digital LGBT advocacy and will continue to help build sup- port for equality in new spaces.
Since the GLAAD Media Awards are gearing up to honor outstanding accomplishments in LGBT repre- sentation in several different areas of media portray- als, we wanted to get the scoop on why the three-city celebration is so vital to the our community. We spoke with Seth Adam, GLAAD’s Communica- tions & Publications Manager, who has been with the organization since April 2009, and is based out of their New York City branch. He explained that nominees are selected by a
thorough four-part criteria that encompasses “fair, accurate and inclusive representations, boldness and originality, impact and overall quality.” Adam also gave us the lowdown on the importance of the three-city celebration and how GLAAD will be around for many more years.
What would you say is the key element that makes the GLAAD Media Awards so important to the LGBT community as a whole? The GLAAD Media Awards complement and fund
GLAAD’s other programs – programs that amplify the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media ac- countable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate more effectively. The high visibility of the awards enhances GLAAD’s
ability to garner understanding and support among media professionals, and those in the industry. The awards also set a “fairness benchmark” for the
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news and entertainment industries, encouraging them to go beyond stock stereotypes and develop LGBT sto- ries that more fully reflect the challenges LGBT people face, and the aspirations we hold for ourselves and our families. What differentiates the three different award ceremonies held in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco? With 147 nominees in 32 categories, one night is simply not enough time to celebrate all the people and projects that promote equality through the media. Also, since GLAAD’s work spans from coast to coast, holding ceremonies in all three cities allows more supporters to engage with and learn about our work to amplify LGBT voices. How are the nominees selected? Nominees are selected by juries comprised of volun-
teers with interest and expertise in the particular media category they are judging. In addition to year-round media monitoring by the
juries, GLAAD issues a “call for entries,” encouraging media outlets to submit outstanding work for consid- eration. GLAAD may nominate a mainstream media project, even if it is not submitted as part of the “call for entries.” However, media outlets created by and for an LGBT audience must submit in order to be considered for nomination.
GLAAD does not monitor media created by and for the
LGBT community for defamation – therefore we do not generate a pool of potential nominees for juries to re- view. nominating juries may select up to five nominees in each category.
If no projects are deemed worthy of
submission, the juries may choose not to nominate. At the end of the year, the nominating juries put forward their list of recommended nominees to GLAAD’s staff and Board of Directors for final approval. And how are the winners determined? Nearly 700 GLAAD Media Awards voters contribute
to the selection of award recipients in each category via online balloting. Voters are comprised of three groups: GLAAD staff and board, GLAAD Media Circle members, and GLAAD volunteers & allies - which includes previous special honorees, key media industry allies, volunteers from the nominating juries, and event production teams. The votes of these three groups result in a final slate of
award recipients, which is then given to GLAAD’s review panel for certification. The review panel is comprised of the GLAAD Board co-chairs, senior GLAAD program and communications staff, and media industry experts. The members of the review panel are expected to view all of the nominees in each category. The final slate of award recipients is certified by the review panel, based on the results of the online balloting and their own expert opinions. Award recipients are announced at events held annu- ally in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. GLAAD is celebrating a high point with its anniversary this year - what would you say will keep the organization going for another 25 years and beyond? Media is evolving, and GLAAD continues to shape
positive stories about LGBT people in new spaces. In 2010, for instance, GLAAD bridged an unprec-
edented partnership with Facebook and helped create the “Network of Support,” an educational initiative that will help put an end to anti-LGBT cyberbullying, and keep the internet safe for everyone. GLAAD’s work in social and online media is leading the
way in digital LGBT advocacy and will continue to help build support for equality in new spaces.
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