Around the world, media organisations are reckoning with systemic racism by diversifying editorial staff to better reflect the communities they serve, and by being frank with their audiences about their history and the challenge they face. As organisations like the BBC look at targets and direct action, the Los Angeles Time put itself publicly in the editorial eye by treating their journey as a story worth reporting. At the IPI 2020 virtual world congress,聽 four journalists came together to talk about how that’s working.
In the face of the difficulties brought about by the pandemic, 鈥渋t has been an extraordinary year for journalism,鈥� Khadija Patel, Vice Chair of the International Press Institute (IPI) and Co-founder of The Daily Vox, told IPI.
鈥淔or many of us this is the story of our lifetime. But as great as the story is in itself, it has also thrown open a lot of scrutiny on the nature of journalism.鈥� According to Patel, this is an opportunity for newsrooms to embrace a long overdue transformation.
鈥淚 saw other black journalists fade away in the newsroom鈥�
Recalling her experience as a black journalist in South Africa Patel said: 鈥淚 felt like my voice wasn鈥檛 being heard and that I was expected to conform to a particular narrative鈥� It wasn鈥檛 just my experience, I saw other black journalists fade away in the newsroom, they grew disillusioned with journalism itself.鈥�
It was only after an interaction with young journalism students in a Johannesburg university that Patel felt propelled to take action, launching her own publication aimed at developing a new generation of young black journalists. Although South Africa has been dealing with questions of identity and race for decades, 鈥渨e still don鈥檛 have this issue sorted out,鈥� said Patel, admitting that bigger efforts are needed to secure change.
鈥淲hen we founded the 40 years ago, we didn鈥檛 really know that during this time in 2020 these issues would be hitting us in the face to the extent they are now鈥�. Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson said, noting the tension in U.S newsrooms in light of this year鈥檚 movement for racial equality. Davidson acknowledged progress has been made: 鈥淢any of us first generation black journalists are in many mainstream newsrooms. But the problems are still very much with us,鈥� he concluded, referring to the recent arrest of CNN correspondent on air in Minneapolis, while a white CNN correspondent nearby was able to continue working.
This just happened: reporter was arrested while covering unrest.
— Jim Roberts (nycjim.bsky.social) (@nycjim)
Even for the LA Times, which has one of more diverse newsrooms in the country, the spotlight on racial equality this year forced a moment of reflection. 鈥淪ome folks here felt that with 38% POC (on staff), we were one of the most diverse newsrooms,鈥� said Scott Kraft, Managing Editor of the Los Angeles Times. 鈥淏ut this is a state, a county and city that is much more diverse.鈥�
The LA Times treated their readers to a series titled 鈥極ur Reckoning with Racism鈥�, in which The Times committed to examine its past. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a 3,000 word to our community for our institution鈥檚 racist past. We鈥檝e heard each day from staffers who have been here a while talking about their experiences of racism in the newsroom.鈥� In a first-person piece published in the LA Times, journalist Clint C Wilson II how systemic racism in the industry impacted his journalism, revealing that as a graduate in the late 1960鈥檚, the Times did not want to hire a reporter of color because they 鈥渁lready had one鈥�.
A Black reporter recalls racism in the newsroom and finally gets his day of reckoning.
“It was time to revisit that history and strip it of its power”
鈥� Los Angeles Times (@latimes)
Transparency and a critical perspective on management and leadership can help create the conditions for improved diversity. After LA Times editors were pushed out due to ethical lapses and other oversights earlier this year, Kraft to observe the turmoil in the newsroom as well as the leadership鈥檚 flaws, in a report that and appreciation for the company鈥檚 transparency. 鈥淲e hope it gains us credibility with our readers,鈥� said Kraft.
Despite constraints, Kraft is adamant to improve diversity and inclusivity in the newsroom and reach audiences the paper failed to attract in the past. 鈥淓verybody in journalism understands that a diverse staff makes for better journalism,鈥� he said, 鈥渟o people will be held accountable. We want to make sure people of color are interviewed for every open position, and we need to go out and look for them if they don鈥檛 apply鈥�.
鈥淲hen we founded the NABJ 40 years ago, we didn鈥檛 really know that [鈥 in 2020 these issues would be hitting us in the face to the extent they are now鈥�
Waking up to its own lack of diversity, the BBC is making new commitments. 鈥淚f we are to remain viable and trusted to all audiences we need to reflect all those audiences inside the BBC as well,鈥� Sarah Ward-Lilley, Managing Editor of News and Current Affairs at the BBC, told IPI. 鈥淲e have a target described 50-20-12: 50% gender balanced, 20% ethnic staff and 12% disabled staff.鈥�
But as Davidson pointed out, setting targets is no guarantee. 鈥淎 few decades ago, an organization called ASNE (American Society of News Editors) set a goal of reaching parity in the newsroom by 2020. They never reached that goal.鈥� Actions speak louder than words, and according to Davidson news organizations should do more than just say they 鈥渟hould do better, but actually put it in print鈥�.
There is an added challenge to the transformation newsrooms are trying to complete. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going into 鈥榩hase two鈥� of covering the story and living with the pandemic,鈥� said Ward-Lilley, 鈥渨e鈥檙e having to close some posts and jobs, and we鈥檙e going through a redundancy program鈥�. Ward-Lilley admitted working remotely under such circumstances negatively impacts staffers鈥� mental health. To support teams and colleagues, 鈥渨e ran mental health resilience drop in sessions.鈥� But according to Ward-Lilley, remote work also has its benefits.
鈥淭he future of journalism is solid鈥�
鈥淗olding editorial meetings on zoom leveled the playing field in terms of people鈥檚 contribution,鈥� she said 鈥渁nd because we are doing things remotely now, the choice of interviewees and experts we鈥檙e having on air is actually broader.鈥� Said Ward-Lilley. This, as Davidson pointed out, 鈥減roves that journalism can adapt.鈥�
Despite the apparent in the industry over the last few years and the existential questions it raises among the journalistic community, 鈥減eople have been predicting the end of journalism for a long time. But newspapers are there and journalists are still working,鈥� continued Davidson 鈥渢he future of journalism is solid.鈥�
鈥淲hatever the device is, it can鈥檛 replace the basics of good journalism,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to hold the powerful accountable, go into communities and talk to people who aren鈥檛 powerful, we must do that no matter the status of our reporting tools.鈥�
This conversation was part of the International Press Institute鈥檚 海角乱伦大神. The panel of聽 鈥�鈥� included Scott Kraft, Joe Davidson, Sarah Ward-Lilley and moderated by Khadija Patel.