Diversity in Journalism

Journalists have the responsibility to verify facts and report accurately on the people and events they cover. Journalists who desire to execute these roles effectively constantly update their knowledge about the various groups that make up a society. However, sometimes they fall short in doing so.

The failure of many U.S. journalists and news organizations to report fairly on various peoples and cultures within the United States is generally attributed to a variety of factors that can be summarized into two categories: (1) lack of diversity in newsroom employment or among the people who comprise the journalist workforce; and (2) the lack of diversity in how news about racial and ethnic minorities is reported. This entry discusses these two issues along with possible strategies to improve ...