Situation Definition
Diversity within the newsroom is extremely important, so that all perspectives can be reported. Because our country is so diverse, it is important that the reporters who give us our news are also diverse, so that we are fully informed about diverse topics. Race and diversity must be discussed in newsrooms in order to continue reporting with an unbiased tone. Having a diverse group of people read the same work can help to ensure that it is inclusive and covers the important topics without bias.
Analysis
Each year, the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) send out a survey for media organizations to complete. The goal is to acknowledge the diversity or lack thereof in all newsrooms so that the ASNE can help to improve this issue of the need for diversity. However, this can only work if the newsrooms complete the surveys, which has not happened. Out of the 1,700 media outlets encouraged to take the survey, only 234 completed it. In order for diversity to improve in newsrooms, data must first be collected, which means that newsrooms need to put in a little work.
According to a review of Gwyneth Mellinger’s book, “Chasing Newsroom Diversity: From Jim Crow to Affirmative Action,” the ASNE’s original goal back in 1978 was to match the percentage of minority diversity in newsrooms with the percentage of minority diversity in America (Rhodes, 2013). In 1997, the executives from the ASNE decided that the goal was unattainable because by that time there were only about 11% of nonwhite employees in newsrooms with 26% percent of nonwhite people in the American population (Rhodes, 2013).
I think that having a diverse newsroom gives that paper a better view on the world around them and a much better way to cover all new events that affect all people, instead of just covering news stories that affect straight, white, cisgender males.
With the shrinking of newspaper staffs, many reporters have to find their own places to share their stories. “As the new reality continues for newspapers, some minority reporters are re-emerging by creating their own voice and filling voids that not been captured through traditional news media. They represent a paradigm shift that may not be easily captured in media surveys and they are deciding how and in what capacity they will participate in the news arena,” (Hayes, 2012).
Conclusion
These issues are extremely important to talk about because diversity matters in all industries. Inclusion and representation of all backgrounds allows stories to be unbiased and can only help the newsroom become more aware of issues that affect all people.
References
Hayes, D. (2012, June 21). Newsroom diversity: An online paradigm shift. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 29, 7. Retrieved from http://ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu
Rhodes, S. (2014). Chasing Newsroom Diversity: From Jim Crow to Affirmative Action. American Journalism, 31(1), 133–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/08821127.2014.875375
(2018, September 13). Diversity Groups Strongly Urge Newsrooms to Contribute to ASNE Survey. National Association of Black Journalists. Retrieved from https://www.nabj.org/news/418084/Diversity-Groups-Strongly-Urge-Newsrooms-to-Contribute-to-ASNE-Survey.htm