Oral Presentations - Session 1F: UC 333
Diversity in the American Newsroom
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Denise Dowling
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Radio-Television
Abstract / Artist's Statement
“Diversity in the American Newsroom” includes research on the ever-changing world of diversity in American journalism—both in the classroom and the newsroom. This research includes findings on the use of the term “minority” to describe a person of color in journalistic writing. This research explores whether or not the use of the term is appropriate in the modern day United States, where minority groups are actually becoming a majority. Should modern day language, especially in news media, shift to include a new word for the growing ethnic populations in our nation? Many experts in the field, including Kenny Irby of the Poynter Institute, agree that the term has lost direct relevance in contemporary world of journalism.
Many fields of study uphold some form of diversity standard within their curriculum, employment and enrollment. However, journalism schools in particular churn out graduates who enter a workforce that is largely in the public eye. Should journalism schools therefore seek to reach and maintain much higher inclusion standards? Most experts in the field agree upon the following conclusion: Diversity initiatives should absolutely be a crucial component in American journalism schools’ curriculum.
This project also includes research on the current decline of employed people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in newsrooms. The hiring and firing of employees, whether due to diversity standards or not, is an important topic to explore in light of the current economic slump.
Journalists of color are of course still hired in newsrooms across the country. But are these professionals forced to cover only the diversity beat? Can journalists of color avoid advocacy while maintaining their cultural and racial identity? Emmy award-winning news reporter TaRhonda Thomas, who currently works at 9News Denver, has had positive experiences covering issues of race as a journalist of color. However, other professionals have felt obligated to avoid covering diversity issues to maintain objectivity.
Category
Humanities
Diversity in the American Newsroom
UC 333
“Diversity in the American Newsroom” includes research on the ever-changing world of diversity in American journalism—both in the classroom and the newsroom. This research includes findings on the use of the term “minority” to describe a person of color in journalistic writing. This research explores whether or not the use of the term is appropriate in the modern day United States, where minority groups are actually becoming a majority. Should modern day language, especially in news media, shift to include a new word for the growing ethnic populations in our nation? Many experts in the field, including Kenny Irby of the Poynter Institute, agree that the term has lost direct relevance in contemporary world of journalism.
Many fields of study uphold some form of diversity standard within their curriculum, employment and enrollment. However, journalism schools in particular churn out graduates who enter a workforce that is largely in the public eye. Should journalism schools therefore seek to reach and maintain much higher inclusion standards? Most experts in the field agree upon the following conclusion: Diversity initiatives should absolutely be a crucial component in American journalism schools’ curriculum.
This project also includes research on the current decline of employed people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in newsrooms. The hiring and firing of employees, whether due to diversity standards or not, is an important topic to explore in light of the current economic slump.
Journalists of color are of course still hired in newsrooms across the country. But are these professionals forced to cover only the diversity beat? Can journalists of color avoid advocacy while maintaining their cultural and racial identity? Emmy award-winning news reporter TaRhonda Thomas, who currently works at 9News Denver, has had positive experiences covering issues of race as a journalist of color. However, other professionals have felt obligated to avoid covering diversity issues to maintain objectivity.