Diversity Doesen't Mean Soft

In the school of hard-boiled journalism, skepticism is touted as a major characteristic of a good reporter. Perhaps this is why upon hearing the call to diversify coverage, some journalists wince. For them, such a call is no more than a declaration to soften coverage in the name of “political correctness.” Though, I’m generally not sure what people mean by political correctness. I assume it means couching the truth in the name of not offending people. But how is not offending someone a political act? More on topic, how does one equate being inclusive in coverage to being soft on coverage? The debate about diversity in news coverage and in hiring has taken a detour. The focus as some people would argue is not about finding ways to avoid offending people. It’s about finding ways to get diverse perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds. Anything less is a breach of our charge as journalists to reflect our pluralistic society, to accurately cover our communities and act ethically. What? Ethics and diversity? Yes, more next time.