Raaya Cummings
rc348017@ohio.edu
Despite the reoccurring conversation regarding the importance of representation, newsrooms continue to lack diversity. Yet, we seem to praise the news for being a voice for the people -- but how true can this be if the staff of these news outlets do not reflect the very people they are supposed to be speaking for?
From the beginning of African American's presence in media, black journalists stressed the importance of speaking for themselves. They recognized the influence that media had on how society viewed them. Especially considering that at the time, news was ran by white men who only incorporated black representation in news and entertainment stories when being racist or derogatory. As a result, they fought hard to tell their own stories, without censorship, in an effort to sway the narrative and make real social change.
The effect media had on the way society viewed specific groups is just as prevalent today as it was back then. While this may seem to present an opportunity for the recognition and education of minority groups, it often inadvertently leads to harmful outcomes as a result of the news' consistent reinforcement of stereotypes. According to niemanreports, "Research shows that stories in which African Americans are consistently associated with poverty and crime increase racial animosity towards them, reinforcing the color lines in our society." Unfortunately, nearly 80% of news stories that mention a black man are only in reference to sports or crime.
Many of these issues could be avoided if companies put more effort into diversifying their staff. While there has been some improvement over time, there is still room for much more to be made. When considering news, 23% of newsrooms are of minority decent despite minorities making up 40% of the U.S. population. Additionally, only 39% of newsrooms are female while women make up 50% of the U.S. population.
Media reflecting the society we live in today is extremely important for a number of reasons. First, it opens up the opportunity for new stories to be told and various view points to be proposed, ultimately furthering discussions. It can also prevent groups from being left out of narratives and can ensure that the right people that are capable of identifying any stereotypes or implicit biases will be presented when certain topics are discussed. These are not only beneficial for stories concerning race but also in areas such as gender, sexual orientation and disabilities.
Hi Raaya! The title of your blog post was very engaging for a reader scrolling by and drew them in to read more. Including statistics in the blog post was great supporting evidence to your claims. For the reader, it further brings attention to the lack of diversity in the newsroom. My favorite line in your blog that resonated the most with me was, "We seem to praise the news for being a voice for the people -- but how true can this be if the staff of these news outlets do not reflect the very people they are supposed to be speaking for?" Very well said.
ReplyDeleteHello Raaya. I thought that your blog post was very well thought out and I really enjoyed the question asked in the title and in the first paragraph. In any field where you work for or represent the public, you should have the public represented in your own organization. Without representation in the newsroom we may miss out on some really great news stories. I liked the ending how you covered that diversity and inclusion in the newsroom is not only about race but about gender, sexual orientation, and disabilities as well.
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