An Arizona federal judge ruled that Peoria's school board didn't violate Heather Rooks's free speech rights when they attempted to shut down her scripture readings. It left the question open on if she's violating the constitution.
Mesa Rep. Lorena Austin is trying (again) to get a license plate bill passed to aid students after it has met all the required legislative rules. Republicans appear to be blocking it.
I’m beyond proud to share LOOKOUT’s very first Impact Report with you. This is a huge milestone—not just for LOOKOUT, but for me personally, as the founder and editorial leader of this newsroom.
When I first envisioned LOOKOUT, I simply wanted to create a small resource for Phoenix’s queer community—a tool to add to the arsenal of LGBTQ+ support systems. I never imagined it would grow into what it is today: Arizona’s most trusted—and only—source for LGBTQ+ news.
That growth hasn’t been without challenges. Many newsrooms stumble in their early years, and not long ago, we faced the possibility of closing our doors after just two years. But we stuck to our values, stayed focused on being a local leader in news, and prioritized delivering the stories and events our community wanted. Because of that, we not only survived—we’re ready to expand in 2025.
This Impact Report is proof of what we’ve built together. With your support, LOOKOUT has achieved what few queer outlets accomplish in such a short time. It’s clear: LOOKOUT isn’t just needed—it’s wanted.
This post is a small rundown of just a few of the successes we’re celebrating, but I invite you to explore our full Impact Report above and at the bottom of this page.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building something incredible.
THEN VS. NOW
Though we officially launched in December 2022, LOOKOUT became a full-time operation in June 2023, thanks to a generous startup grant from the American Journalism Project.
With that funding, we hired Jake Hylton as a full-time executive director and fundraiser, began launching our events programs, and developed a business model centered on engaging with communities, understanding their needs, and shaping our newsroom around their priorities.
Our first step was conducting an audience survey to assess the needs of people across the state. We hired two dozen individuals from various regions to speak with their friends, neighbors, families, and coworkers about what was missing in local news and what they wanted to see.
The results revealed that while Arizona’s LGBTQ+ community is engaged with the news, they don’t trust it.
This data—though sobering—motivated us to address the gap in local news coverage, and we got to work.
We adopted an Instagram-first model, meeting people where they already turn for information online. We prioritized accountability journalism by hiring two fellows in early 2024 to focus on public health reporting. We secured partnerships with both local and national news outlets to ensure our stories reached beyond echo chambers. Additionally, we expanded our model to not only deliver news but also host newsworthy events that foster a stronger sense of community.
The results speak for themselves:
OUR IMPACT
We’re not in this for the awards. But one of the biggest challenges queer media faces today is breaking out of LGBTQ+ circles and being taken seriously by broader audiences.
That’s why we approach every story with a focus on reaching beyond the usual readership—connecting with those who might not follow LGBTQ+ news and raising awareness of queer issues often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
This commitment is reflected in the recognition we received this year:
2024 Best Newsletter – Phoenix New Times
2024 Best Source of LGBTQ+ News – Phoenix Magazine
National Audience Public Choice Award – Glen Nelson Center NextChallenge
2024 Spirit of BJ Bud Community Award – Phoenix Pride
Arizona Media Association Awards:
1st Place: Newswriting and Reporting Excellence
1st Place: Best Newsletter
3rd Place: Best Sustained News Coverage/Series
But like I said: awards aren’t why we do this work. Our true impact lies in the change we create:
LOOKOUT exposed licensed counselors in Arizona still practicing conversion therapy despite an executive order restricting funding. Our reporting led dozens to come forward with stories of abuse tied to a Mesa practice.
Our coverage influenced community decisions to withhold funding from both nonprofit and private organizations over ethical concerns.
LOOKOUT’s stories were aggregated by LGBTQ Nation, bringing our reporting to national audiences, and our newsletter was spotlighted by the Trusting News Collective as a model for building audience trust.
MOST READ STORIES
We don’t just report the feel-good stories—we’re here to hold power accountable, both outside and within our community. Our most-read stories of 2024 prove that the LGBTQ+ community craves journalism that confronts uncomfortable truths and drives change.
At LOOKOUT, we believe in “keeping a clean house,” which means doing the tough soul-searching to uncover what’s holding us back or holding us down. Here are the stories that define our ethos—and captured the most attention this year:
LOOKOUT interviewed two-dozen people, from local business owners to volunteers, who said that while Phoenix Pride is welcome, they need to do more than throw a party.
After quietly losing all its staff last year, Equality Arizona—one of the state’s longest running LGBTQ+ advocacy orgs—faced closure. But a familiar face brought it back, and not everyone is OK with it.
A last-minute appearance by Dr. Jill Biden at this year’s Flagstaff Pride left community members to lash out against their local Pride organization.
QUEER NEWS NETWORK
Stories published by the Queer News Network during the 2024 Election
This summer, LOOKOUT partnered with Q Voice News and QVegas to launch the Queer News Network (QNN), a groundbreaking collaboration reshaping LGBTQ+ journalism. Focused on the 2024 General Election, QNN united LGBTQ+ newsrooms nationwide to deliver in-depth reporting on critical down-ballot issues in key states. From October 1 to November 12, QNN tracked candidates and ballot initiatives tied to organizations promoting gender-based or political violence, creating a new standard for nuanced election coverage.
Powered by eight interns from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, QNN produced 42 original stories, including on-the-ground reporting from a pop-up newsroom in New York City during Election Week. The project’s Election Desk also launched a weekly newsletter, growing its readership from 60 to 153 with no marketing budget, achieving a stellar 75% open rate and an 11% click-through rate. Thanks to its strategic partnerships, QNN’s stories reached more than 130,000 readers.
This next year, QNN plans to expand under LOOKOUT’s leadership as a program dedicated to elevating LGBTQ+ stories in journalism. This success demonstrates the power of collaboration in amplifying queer perspectives on vital issues from health to policy.
THE BIG TAKEAWAYS
A message from Jake Hylton, LOOKOUT's Executive Director
As we dive headfirst into 2025, I’m struck by both the challenges we’ve faced and the incredible strength we’ve shown together in the past few years since we started at LOOKOUT.
Right now, our communities are being tested, but LOOKOUT has stood tall—driven by the courage, resilience, and accountability of our extraordinary team, our steadfast partners, and the vibrant LGBTQ+ community we proudly serve.
This year, LOOKOUT has remained unwavering in our mission: delivering free, accessible content that amplifies the voices, stories, and truths that matter most. With the support of incredible publishing partners by our side, we’ve been able to rise to every challenge and continue the pursuit of equality and inclusivity.
LOOKOUT is more than just a newsroom; we are Arizona’s only LGBTQ+ newsroom. A beacon of truth. A catalyst for change. A force empowering queer individuals to make informed decisions and shape the future of their communities.
Thank you for being the heart of LOOKOUT. The future is brighter because of you.
With gratitude and hope for the future, Jake Hylton Executive Director
LOOKOUT has ambitious plans to meet the needs of our growing queer community. By the end of 2025, we aim to expand from two to seven staff members, triple our freelance team, and grow our internship and fellowship programs—building on the success of 10 interns and 2 fellows in 2024. This growth is essential to achieving our vision of equal respect, rights, and opportunity for all through fearless, fact-based journalism that amplifies the LGBTQ+ experience.
Our mission doesn’t stop at Arizona’s borders. In 2026, we plan to bring our accountability journalism to Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Instead of opening satellite offices, we’ll hire local talent across the region; we won't settle for anything less than reporters deeply embedded in their communities to cover the issues that matter most.
We can’t do this without you. Our "north stars" for LOOKOUT over the next few years are revitalizing democracy, igniting change, and amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. Whether through membership, donations, or volunteering, your support continues to fuel the work that makes a difference for our community. If this report has moved you to donate, you can do so below.
Our success so far has been possible thanks to our media partners, funders, and you: those who believe in the power of a dedicated local news source for Arizona’s queer community. This year, we need your help to take the next step. I know that together, we can create the meaningful change we dreamed of two very long years ago.
Read our full Impact Report below to see how far we’ve come—and where we’re headed next.
LOOKOUT Publications (EIN: 92-3129757) is a federally recognized nonprofit news outlet.
All mailed inquiries can be sent to 221 E. Indianola Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012.