Defining what diverse news publishing looks like

In line with their mandate to support and uplift diverse news organisations, a leading global tech company wanted a better understanding of what a diverse newsroom looked like. The team needed an airtight framework on which to base decision-making and ensure they covered off any blind spots. 

Method

Along with a team of three, I produced a definition of diversity by market and a robust, enduring framework of what constitutes a diverse publisher. To do this, we conducted interviews with 35+ renowned global thinkers to identify a framework of factors that influence DE&I locally and globally, as well as identified relevant publishers & conducted ethnographic immersion across five markets to identify key opportunities for the client to champion DE&I in newsrooms. 

Crucial Insights

The conceptual framework identified key factors for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive news environment at both global and local levels...

• Diverse leadership at all levels

• An empowering culture with equitable participation opportunities for all

• Content that equitably and authentically reflects the lived experiences of all sections of society

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...while the ethnography study revealed challenges faced by diverse publishers and identified opportunities for the client to support.

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• Publishers are struggling financially to make ends meet and therefore cannot always create the content they want to share. 

• Independent newsrooms that focus on DE&I issues can face a lack of recognition within the publishing industry.

• Independent publishers would benefit from a greater degree of cross-industry and external collaboration and partnerships.