outattheconvention A Case for Nerds
B Y K E V I N A. B A R RY is done in real time, so mistakes can be immediately remedied. am a nerd. I like romantic comedies. I have always admired the The immediacy and the adaptability of the “Breaking Stories, likes of Peter Parker, Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Rory Gilmore. Breaking Waves” programming was one of the things I liked best I was an early adopter of e-mail and instant messaging services. I about the convention as well. Right before we left for San Diego, even had a blog in 2000 when I lived in London. (Blogs were popSen. Larry Craig was arrested at the Minneapolis airport for disorularized in the United States circa 2001.) While I try to deny my derly conduct after he allegedly tried to engage in lewd behavior fate, as I grow older, I realize that resistance is futile. There is no with the person in the bathroom stall next to him. When this news denying it — I am a nerd. A cute nerd, a fun nerd, but a nerd broke, NLGJA added a session to the convention programming nonetheless. with Dan Popkey, a reporter from the Idaho Statesman who covBeing a nerd has its advantages. As a ered Craig for many years, to offer his pernerd, you get a certain amount of courage spective on the incident. Between this and early on to try things that other people could the in-depth analysis offered by the LGBT not care less about for any other reason than Media Summit, the media nerd in me was it interests you. For example, my friend overwhelmed. Anna loves pirates. So, for her birthday, my Next year’s NLGJA convention promisfriends and I dressed as pirates and took her es to be even more exciting because, in addito a pirate dinner in Orange County, Calif. tion to it being the fifth year for the LGBT Nerds can do that kind of stuff. Media Summit, it is also being held in Being a nerd also has disadvantages, Washington, D.C., three months before the though. People expect you to know things presidential election. It will be held Aug. 21like what a nebula is. I am not that type of 24, 2008. While the programming is still nerd. I am the kind of nerd that likes to take being set, one thing is for sure: It will be an on a challenge — an overachiever of sorts. exciting time full of energy. If you are conFor me, being a nerd means being passionsidering going, I would advise you to find a Being a nerd also has ate about all you do. I happen to be pasway to attend. Take a chance, because you sionate about philanthropy, public health, disadvantages, though. may be pleasantly surprised. LGBT issues and the media. Let’s take People expect you to The NLGJA convention in San Diego “Breaking Stories, Breaking Waves,” NLGJA’s allowed me the opportunity to indulge all my know things like what 2007 National Convention & 4th Annual passions at once. As such, I plan to reprise my a nebula is. LGBT Media Summit, as an example. I was role as blogger and resident nerd at the the official blogger, but it was only decided Washington, D.C., convention as well. While I that we would have a blog three weeks prior to the event. might not be the stereotypical nerd that you see on “Ugly Betty” or As someone who is just starting his career as a freelance “Chuck,” I am a still a nerd. However, being a nerd does not define writer, blogging for a convention of LGBT journalists made me a who I am any more than being gay or being a writer does. They are little nervous. I had the same fears that any budding journalist all just pieces of who I am, and through NLGJA, I have found an has. I wondered if I got the best story, how critical people would intelligent and diverse community of like-minded individuals that be of my writing, and what time the lynching would occur when embraces and develops those parts of myself that I like the best. I made my first mistake. However, many of these fears were unfounded because the blog was about my perspective and my Kevin A. Barry is a freelance journalist who is always on the voice. So the best story was the one I told. The people were wellookout for new challenges and new assignments. You can reach him coming and hospitable, and what is great about blogging is that it via e-mail at kevin.in.media@gmail.com.
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