MEDIA ALERT: Annual Newsroom Diversity Survey
May 20, 2020
NLA has redesigned the annual Newsroom Diversity Survey, formerly known as the ASNE Newsroom survey, in order to better serve the field of journalism. As Covid19 accelerated the economic impact to our industry, diversity, equity and inclusion remains a top priority for NLA. In the past, the survey measured the percentage of minorities working in newsrooms. This year the survey has been transformed into research that will inform a tool to help newsrooms across the country advance their DEI goals.
“The annual diversity track has been a comprehensive tool to highlight the work the media industry so desperately needs to fix. But in recent years, our organization has been troubled that while the numbers were so stark and eye-opening, we haven’t seen the industry transform or make significant improvements,” said Katrice Hardy, Executive Editor Indianapolis Star and Midwest Regional Editor for USA Today Network, and NLA Diversity Committee Chair.
“When we completed the 2019 survey, we realized that our approach was insufficient to address the different outlet types and the spectrum of identities among people from underrepresented groups,” said Meredith D. Clark, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia and principal investigator for the survey in 2018 and 2019.
“We are scaling back our data-collection efforts this year as we work to completely revise our approach. To do this work well, we need to develop several components that address issues of scope, size, evolution and consolidation among outlets, while accounting for the complexities of collecting demographic data,” Clark said.
Key outcomes of the new data-collection strategy to be rolled out in full in 2021 will include:
A toolkit that can be used by different organizational types to do their own diversity data collection and dissemination, including reporting up to collate the data at national level.
A best practices/insight guide
Board-led advocacy among foundations and affinity groups to require the inclusion of diversity- data reporting as a requirement in any applications for funding
News Leaders has built a diverse board that reflects the changing landscape of media organizations and the country and continues to be leader in diversity training via its Emerging Leaders Institute.
Michael Days, vice president of Diversity and Inclusion at The Philadelphia Inquirer and president of the News Leaders Association said, “We want the NLA Diversity Survey to be more impactful, more focused on shepherding change.”
NLA’s mission is to foster and develop the highest standards of trustworthy, truth-seeking journalism; to advocate for open, honest and transparent government; to fight for free speech and an independent press; to nurture the next generation of news leaders committed to spreading knowledge that informs democracy. Our goal is for all citizens to be informed by accurate, truthful, independent reporting so they can demand the best from our democratic institutions.
Contact:
Fran Reilly
Executive Director
News Leaders Association
Freilly@newsleaders.org