News and information to help journalists serve the public and stay safe.
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This newsletter will return on Monday, as the Institute will be closed Friday to honor the Independence Day holiday weekend.
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The pandemic, economic struggles and the most recent demands for social justice are forcing newsrooms to account for their
own failures
at diversity, inclusion and representative coverage. The work of sustaining change will fall on the incoming generation of journalists.
As the National Press Club Journalism Institute
spotlights recent graduates
ready to pursue careers in journalism, we asked them what they are thinking about how newsrooms can change to better reflect the communities they serve.
As
Carol Wright
, a graduate from American University, wrote: “They need to know that
the work does not stop with the hiring process. Newsrooms need to take the time to listen to the diverse perspectives of the employees they bring in.”
Today we are highlighting responses from Wright and four other emerging journalists:
Marcus Sykes
,
a graduate from the University of North Texas;
Dan Toomey
, a graduate from the University of Southern California;
Jenna Ortiz
, a graduate from Arizona State University, and
Jacob Reyes
, a graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington.
“There are so many groups out there who should be covered, and that's on us to share their stories,” Ortiz wrote. “Never be complacent in your work and continue to reach out to marginalized groups. They want to be heard.”
“We say that we are supposed to hold the powerful accountable,” Sykes wrote. “How can we ethically do that when we don't hold our newsrooms accountable?”
Why do you think diversity and inclusion are important ethical values in journalism?
Carol Wright
:
They are important ethical values because if a newsroom is not diverse, the stories written will not reflect the diversity of the world we live in. This is a disservice for those who look to newsrooms to share stories that reflect all of us.
Jenna Ortiz
: It would not be right to have only one side of a story. There are so many groups out there who should be covered, and that's on us to share their stories. Never be complacent in your work and continue to reach out to marginalized groups. They want to be heard.
Jacob Reyes
: Because the media’s sole responsibility is to inform the public and bring untold stories to the spotlight. If our reporters don’t represent the diversity of America, then we are nowhere close to completing that responsibility.
Marcus Sykes
: We say that we are supposed to hold the powerful accountable. How can we ethically do that when we don't hold our newsrooms accountable to have a life of diversity of inclusion.
Dan Toomey
: Your newsroom must reflect your audience. In the digital age, your audience is diverse. That's the formula. The job of a journalist is to be a reflection of society and look to the issues that are pertinent to readers and viewers.
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The coronavirus pandemic has forced journalists to collect their stories from afar. Conducting an in-person interview is near impossible. On the telephone or on a video call, the ability to pay attention is crucial. Do you listen, or do you wait to ask? The National Press Club Journalism Institute has invited two of the best interviewers in journalism —
Terry Gross
and
Michael Barbaro
— for a discussion about the challenges and opportunities of interviewing now.
Marketplace correspondent
Kimberly Adams
will moderate.
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“
There is no pipeline problem
,” said
Robert Hernandez
, USC Annenberg School of Journalism
associate professor of professional practice,
last week
. “J-schools across the country have trained and prepared talented, diverse voices ready to work in our industry, but they are often overlooked when hiring.”
This week
Miya Williams Fayne
, assistant professor in the Department of Communications at California State University, Fullerton, shares her perspective.
Why do you think the industry has been so slow in addressing racial inequities within?
Williams Fayne
: I think the industry doesn't truly want to reckon with its shortcomings. The American Society of News Editors (now
The News Leaders Association
) set a goal for newsrooms to reach racial parity by 2000, but that goal has continuously been pushed back as media outlets have yet to mirror the diversity of the population. Some newsrooms have actually regressed and have fewer people of color now than in years prior. The low percentage of outlets that even take the time to complete the ASNE Newsroom Diversity Survey (last year it was less than 25%) is revealing and shows a lack of initiative to address this issue.
Do you believe that journalism schools are doing enough to encourage diversity both in terms of faculty and students?
Williams Fayne
: There's always more that can be done. The percentage of students of color at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) is still far from representative. Journalism schools can intentionally recruit from more high schools in low-income neighborhoods and create summer programs for students of color that will help strengthen the pipeline. Also, while faculty at minority-serving institutions should at least reflect the diversity of their student body, this is often not the case. Journalism schools can be more intentional in the recruitment and retention of faculty of color to ensure that students are able to learn from professors who are more likely to relate to their experiences. It's also important that all students are exposed to diverse perspectives from both faculty and their peers.
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Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago
Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership
It’s a great video.
Dr. Clare Wenham
,
a professor in Global Health Policy at London School of Economics and Political Science, is being interviewed about COVID-19 data by Christian Fraser on the BBC. Like many parents working from home these days, she’s not alone.
Her young daughter makes an appearance. She wants to discuss her unicorn art and where to show off her masterpiece in the room where mummy’s working.
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Dr. Wenham is in maximum multi-task mode: live broadcasting and parenting while apologizing for the interruption.
She is now the symbol of every work-from-home parent who doesn’t want to let anyone down. Not her sweet daughter, not the organization she represents and not the audience listening for her expert advice.
We feel for her as she talks about pandemic hot spots, while just over her shoulder, her daughter continues her unicorn quest.
At this point, the program host has choices. He could ask the director to cut back to him on camera while the doctor regroups. He could end the interview early.
But he does the best thing of all.
With a lilt in his voice, he asks, “What’s your daughter called?”
“She’s called Scarlett,” replies Dr. Wenham, with a smile.
Fraser compliments Scarlett on her lovely unicorn and suggests she put the artwork on the lower shelf.
Scarlett thinks on that for a bit, then asks her mom to tell her the TV man’s name.
“Christian,” he tells her.
Now we all smile. In the midst of a pandemic, we’re pausing to focus on what’s precious.
In fact, I’d call it a leadership moment.
Fraser could have made a working mother feel that her apology was warranted.
He could have shushed a child. Instead, he chose to showcase her, right there on the BBC news.
Scarlett’s new friend Christian sent a message to parents and employers everywhere: Families matter.
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Chances are the stubborn coronavirus has canceled your July 4 neighborhood bash or the holiday travel plans you optimistically made more than a month ago. That doesn't mean you have to
forgo Independence Day traditions
.
Try these celebratory suggestions:
- At the table: Use the occasion to try a new holiday recipe. Or show off a patriotic refreshment like this simple lemonade with fresh strawberries and blueberries (and add your own adult kick).
- In the backyard: Follow CDC social distancing rules — wear face coverings when less than 6 feet apart, have extra face masks available, encourage guests to bring their own food and drink, limit the number of food handlers and keep hand sanitizer nearby.
- At the fireworks: If your community is holding fireworks, avoid any crowds and watch from a socially distanced space, such as a rooftop or an overlook. But many municipal displays have been canceled, and the American Pyrotechnics Association reports record retail sales, indicating a boom in backyard fireworks. If you plan to fire off some sparklers, cones or roman candles, know your local ordinances and follow safety tips. Important note to pet owners: Loud noises or discarded or spent fireworks can hurt your four-legged friends. So find a quiet place for your pup or follow this ASPCA advice.
- On your own or with your significant other: Start to read your favorite summer book. Take a run/walk/bike ride for 7.4 miles in honor of the holiday. Watch a film that incorporates Independence Day. Or tune into your local PBS station for the broadcast of A Capitol Fourth.
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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, Jim Kuhnhenn, and Julie Moos.
Send us your questions and suggestions
for topics to cover.
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