Situation Definition
There have been many studies analyzing if being a minority in the newsroom affects their work practices. At Georgia State University, Marian Meyers and Lynne Gayle interviewed ten African American women who were TV and newspaper journalists to examine their experiences in the newsroom. This case focuses on hearing not only the negative sides of being an African American journalist, but also how they seek positive opportunities of being a minority in the newsroom. These ten African American women also expressed how they feel the need to educate their coworkers when race and diversity appears in the news. For them, race was more of an issue in the newsroom than gender.
Analysis
The first ethical offense in this study was the overall experience that these African American journalists face every day in the newsroom. A few examples are, “not including African Americans who appear stereotypic in how they look, talk, or act as news sources, encouraging African American new sources to improve their appearance prior to being videotaped and seeking white images and voices to balance Black images and voices that may reflect stereotypes, particularly on topics such as welfare and crime” (Meyers & Gayle, 2015). Despite the way they are treated, they are striving to write stories that counteract the stereotypes of African Americans and other minorities. These journalists are seeking opportunities to increase diversity in the everyday news.
The second ethical issue is that these African American women have to educate their white coworkers and bosses because they do not understand the black community. They are unaware of the sensitivity of certain stories that air and how they are aired. One of the African American journalist stated, “You feel like you’re always explaining — from hair weaves to church. You’re always giving these lessons. And you feel that you always have to clarify and explain the way it is, and this is why.” It is unfair that these journalists feel the pressure to justify their community to their coworkers.
At John Eligon’s Foster-Foreman Conference presentation, he too discussed the hardships of being an African American in the journalism world and how he handled those challenges. He agreed that it was more difficult being African American in the newsroom, but it was how he handled it that made him a better journalist. John opens up out of his comfort zone and tries to put himself in other people’s shoes so that the people he is interviewing feel more comfortable. He also does not alter his stories because of his race, but simply states the facts he was given.
Conclusion
It is difficult for me to relate to these challenges, but as a human being, it is important to stress the meaning of inclusion in the work place. Someone’s race should not define their career. If they are good at what they do, they should be complimented and encouraged to continue doing what they love. This case allowed me to hear from African American journalists’ negative experiences, but also how they are trying to change the stereotypes that are put on them.
References
Meyers, M., & Gayle, L. (2015). African American Women in the Newsroom: Encoding Resistance. Howard Journal of Communications, 26(3), 292–312. https://doi.org/10.1080/10646175.2015.1049760
“10/24/18 Foster Foreman Conference – John Eligon.” (2018). VOD Player, videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4821/media/389593?autostart=false&showtabssearch=true&fullscreen=false.
