Diversity more than just a topic for discussion
It's true that America's news rooms need more diversity. But I thinkt he challenge is even bigger than that. The entire journalism system needs a "diversity reality check." One of my favorite journalism sites where I check in often to check the journalism pulse is Poynter.org. One think I notice, of course being a part of an ethnic group that is way on the fringes of mainstream media, is that the faculty and staff there reflect "popular" diversity (hispanics, African Americans, Asians, Jews, etc). But it doesn't seem to reflect the area I am most concerned about, the issue of "unpopular diversity." There are no Arabs. No Muslims stood out. (I don't mean to pick on them, just using them as an example). I think I find the same problemw hen I look at the boards of journalism organizations, journalism watchdog groups, journalist support institutions, and journalism university faculty.
Makes it tough to hammer a newspaper for a lack of diversity when the definition of diversity is so marrow.
Does anyone even agree with me that we have so narrowly defined "diversity" to only address the "popular" diversity -- is there a better term for this? -- and that we have created a whole group of minorities who are outside of what satisfies mainstream "diversity" demands?
Just trying provoke some thoughts on what the real meaning of diversity is and should be by throwing these stones.
Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com