“The Paper Is White”: Examining Diversity Issues With the Next Generation of Journalists

Abstract

Although the lack of diversity in newsrooms and reporting remains a serious issue in the journalism industry, college journalism education and student media provide a critical opportunity for change. Yet prior research has found notable diversity gaps in both. This study analyzed the state of diversity at a Midwestern university student newspaper and found significant gaps in coverage of diverse populations. The findings suggest the need for more comprehensive diversity education within the college classroom and campus media advising. This is important not only for more representative student media, but also for the future of journalism.

How COVID-19 has affected college newspapers: A mixed-methods study

“…Optimistically, researchers hope this round of efforts is a turning point for student newsrooms and professional outlets, as well. These findings are similar to past work (Smith, 2008) and recent work focused on diversity at college outlets (Finneman et al, 2022). However, the progress toward true diversity in newsrooms should persist as a point of research continually to ensure the industry makes sincere progress toward improvement.…”

Examining Gaps in Journalism Curriculum to Solve the News Desert Crisis

“…More recently, Markovikj and Serafimovska (2023) found a deficiency in teaching mental health resilience, while Mesmer (2023) concluded journalism courses need to include content about dealing with hostility. Likewise, media and information literacy (Jamil et al, 2022), trauma training (Newman et al, 2023), diversity (Finneman, Hendricks & Bobkowski, 2022), and artificial intelligence (Pavlik, 2023) are stressed as ever-more important to incorporate in the classroom. At the same time, journalism faculty face criticism from the industry for putting too much emphasis on technology and not enough on basic skills like writing, critical thinking, interviewing, and deadlines (Ferrucci, 2018).…”

“I Definitely Would Appreciate a Little More Validation”: Toward an Ethics of Care in College Newsrooms and Journalism Education

“…White values manifest “in the overrepresentation of whites in the profession, in the viewpoint of journalism practitioners, and in newsgathering routines and practices” (Alemán, 2014, p. 74). An audit of a Midwestern campus newspaper found that although student journalists express interest in embracing diversity and inclusion, they need more pedagogical support to achieve better social justice coverage (Finneman et al, 2021, pp. 22–23).…”