The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association is offering college students scholarships to attend its national convention in Las Vegas, October 1-4.

In exchange, students will be expected to work on a student-generated website, offering coverage of the entire convention under the supervision of professional journalists from some of the nation's best known publications.

The journalist's association is working notify colleges and universities nationwide, calling the offer "an outstanding opportunity." Steve Friess, the convention chair says: "Every job and freelance assignment I've ever had came from contacts at the NLGJA conventions — and (its) a wonderful experience."

"White tigers, Coney Island rollercoasters, faux volcanoes and quickie wedding chapels - even for gays, writes Friess, "NLGJA is "On a Roll," and after six years is taking its big show back West, to the land of big shows, 24-hour neon and billion-dollar hotel tourist attractions. Oh yeah, you might also bump into a slot machine or two along the way.

"In November, the convention committee decided unanimously to place their bets on Las Vegas for the site of the 1998 annual convention. It was the culmination of a surprise two-month effort by the newly minted Southern Nevada chapter to bring the conference to one of the most vibrant, unusual and popular convention locales in the nation.

"The Southern Nevada chapter, with the programming help of Mike Wilke and Rose Arce and their New York chapter, plan to deliver the glitziest, most intriguing and productive conference yet.

"Las Vegas greets 35 million tourists annually and hosts thousands of immensely successful conventions each year in its awe-inspiring theme hotels. NLGJA's convention will be at the Alexis Park Resort, a lush, non-gaming property with a sprawling verandah and tropical fountains to serve as backdrop to our receptions. It's a smaller property, which means we'll have it virtually to ourselves for the four-day October swing.

"Long past the mob-driven days of Bugsy, Las Vegas is exquisitely clean and bent on pushing forth a family-friendly face - even to us. Hotels feature white tigers, roller coasters and send-ups to quaint New York neighborhoods of old. Caesar's Palace, the standard-bearer for the themed resort, boasts the world's most profitable and popular mall, the Forum Shops, which now includes the world's largest FAO Schwartz as well as other favorites. The Stratosphere hotel is the tallest free-standing building west of the Mississippi, even bigger than Seattle's Space Needle.

"But Southern Nevada isn't just a desert in neon, either. Lake Mead, the nation's largest manmade lake, is 30 minutes from the Strip, as is the technologically amazing Hoover Dam. Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon state parks both are short drives and offer hiking and viewing of astonishing red rock formations. And Las Vegas is the closest large city to the Grand Canyon, a three-hour drive or a $200 helicopter ride away.

"The convention will be a serious matter, but entertainment will be all Vegas. The two leading drag acts in town have already agreed to perform gratis to our members, and other acts are expressing similar eagerness to have several hundred journalists checking out their shows. The publisher of the city's notoriously conservative newspaper, the Review-Journal, has already offered enthusiastic support and a bunch of sponsorship goodies, and the governor and mayor are eager to greet our group this fall. Las Vegas and Southern Nevada welcome you. Bring a fistful of quarters -- you'll win more, of course -- and prepare to be dazzled at NLGJA's seventh annual conference."