Molly Wilson
mw542219@ohio.edu
Diversity within journalism is a topic that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. More and more newsrooms have developed diversity teams to diversify content and staffing. Unfortunately, diversity in sourcing, content, and coverage is often separated from staffing concerns, despite the interconnectivity of it all.
How does the newsroom influence various coverage?
Newsrooms need to reflect the population they serve. A majority white newsroom may not write or pitch stories that reflect its audience accurately. Seeking out various coverage is a large part of writing inclusive move stories and featuring diverse experiences. However, in a Washington Post article regarding Dove's racist campaign, it was mentioned that a lack of diversity in its staff may have resulted in the campaign running in the first place. Similar things can happen in news coverage when diversity is not prioritized. Journalists can not target diverse content or sources with various backgrounds if they do not reflect their audience.
Why diversify content?
Beats are a fundamental part of journalism. However, in covering a beat, reporters may contact the same sources frequently and may fall into a pattern of sourcing that does not accurately represent the population they cover.
Covering stories without speaking to people with various backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences does not allow fair or balanced reporting. Additionally, journalists fail to serve their readers when they do not account for a range of experiences in their stories, according to the American Press Institute. Journalists are supposed to produce content and write stories that benefit everyone, not just a particular population.
Balanced reporting requires journalists to take the time necessary to interview individuals who will provide an additional or different viewpoint to a story. According to the American Press Institute, doing so is essential in reaching new audiences and staying relevant in coverage.
Ways to diversify content:
Taking action to keep from falling into sourcing routines is difficult. When journalists talk with frequent sources and are responsive, it is easy to reach out to them. However, journalists need to be active in reaching out to different and more diverse sources with various lived experiences.
According to the Society of Professional Journalists' website, asking existing sources for other contacts is one way to cast a wider sourcing net. However, speaking with the same people for multiple stories does not allow other people with different experiences or backgrounds to add another angle. Journalists should also go to groups, restaurants, schools, or community events to seek new coverage and sourcing.
Reporters also need to be aware of and research their publication's coverage history. Journalists need to know what coverage and sources have not been a priority for their publication in the past and actively seek out those stories or people. Reporters should also cover groups and individuals whose publication has been underrepresented.
No publication is perfect, but our job as journalists is to seek out new coverage, actively diversify newsrooms, and ensure that no groups are ignored.
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