Logan Humphrey
lh129720@ohio.edu
According to a report by the Guardian, 79% of people working in the newsroom are white. There is an obvious need for more representation in the media. As of now, there is a severe lack of trust for news and media; could it be possible that it is because of a lack of representation? As journalists, our job should be to represent the voices of the American people. How can we do that if we do not include all different voices?
More representation accounts for more transparency in the media. As one of the essential codes in ethics, transparency allows for more trust. For example, the Society of Professional Journalist Code of Ethics states journalists should "encourage civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content." Without a doubt, this code should become more of a priority to journalists, especially new and upcoming journalists.
Ethically, it is the journalist's responsibility to allow other journalists to pursue the areas they are familiar with or similar. The more a person knows or relates to a specific area, the more transparent and fair the news.
White newsmakers voicing different races can be skewed, forcing viewers to make certain assumptions or stereotypes about that race. The SPJ Code of Ethics encourages journalists to avoid stereotyping when seeking the truth and reporting it. Especially with shocking events like George Floyd's death, diversity in the news would help execute the news in the best way possible. More tragic events like this happen, more critical than ever to include more diverse reporters to report on this type of subject.
The Associated Press had reported that there had been a growth in diversity at major news outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post. While growth is essential for these significant outlets, it would also be remarkable for smaller news outlets with smaller communities to have a growing representation to feel just as represented. That is where representation is needed the most.
The lack of representation in the newsroom should not be looked over, as it allows for benefits that are important and convenient for everyone. Whether it's fairness or transparency, there are many ways the media can benefit from inclusion. In addition, allowing more diversity could be a pivotal step towards increasing the public's trust in the media.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2018/nov/05/newsroom-diversity-media-race-journalism
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