Representation in the Newsroom: Important Insights we Lose Without it

 Tess Woodyard

tw330817@ohio.edu

    When you turn on the news, you expect to see yourself represented. Not just represented in what the news is covering, but who is covering it. According to The Guardian, more than 37% of the US population may not always be represented in the newsroom.

The majority of major news stations are dominated by white journalists. According to The Guardian, just four years ago, only 16.6% of journalists at daily newspapers were people of color. This representation is not equal, nor is it fair to those of color.

So, what does this mean when it comes to reporting news? We expect those who are reporting to be qualified and skilled, but we could be missing out on many people who are qualified but have never gotten the chance to use those skills.

One of the most important qualities of reporting in the newsroom is truth and transparency. Even if the majority of journalists are reporting the truth, there are many aspects that are missed when there is a lack of representation.

There are stories that are missed when everything is being reported by a white-dominated newsroom. We miss an important insight and an important take on stories when they are only covered by one race.

Source: FreePik.com

According to NiemanLab, in a study discussing white reporters covering race, they cover issues through the traditional journalism lens of passive objectivity. Black community leaders want reporters to build trust and build relationships before arriving to ask questions and just report.

When a reporter has no connection to their story, passive objectivity is not always enough. Active objectivity helps build trust with community members. Building trust over time creates a more transparent journalist and creates an understanding of other people's experiences.

When we talk about inclusion in the newsroom, we have to talk about change. According to AdAge, "without disruption, there can be no real inclusion". Pre-existing rules and structures which have been created by dominant cultures have to evolve to really create an inclusive environment.

It is not about adding representation just to add quantity. While it is important to have representation, there has to be innovation. There has to be a change in the workplace, in the newsroom, and within journalists to find a better way to report information to everyone.

There has been a need for change for many years now. We have to continue to recognize what needs to be changed, disrupt the structure, and create a quality newsroom with representation.