San diego newspaper deep into diversity

By Leo E. Laurence
Member, SPJ National Committee on Diversity
Diversity Chair, San Diego “Pro” Chapter

San Diego’s only daily newspaper, the San Diego Union Tribune, “has an ongoing commitment to diversity of its news staff and in its coverage,” says Editor Karin Winner.

The U-T’s staff includes leaders of all four professional journalism organizations involving diversity. Each year, the U-T sends representatives of these groups to their national conventions.

Asian-Americans

For its 25th anniversary last June, members of the Asian-American Journalists Association went to Hawaii where their members have long been part of that state’s culture, government and history.

Among the guest speakers in Hawaii were Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Medical Correspondent and Lisa Ling, Special Correspondent for the Oprah Winfrey Show and the National Geographic Channel.

At the U-T, Features Design Editor Michael James Rocha is a member of the AAJA governing board. Don Chareunsy, editor of the U-T’s Night & Day section, Passages section and Street editor is the AAJA’s local president.

African-Americans

Members of the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists attended the NABJ’s 31st annual convention in Indianapolis last August.

Special guests were New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, poet Nikki Giovanni and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.

At the U-T, Features Copy Editor Jerry McCormick is a founding president of the San Diego NABJ chapter.

Gays

Members of the San Diego chapter of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association attended their annual convention in Miami Beach last year. The chapter is gearing up to host the NLGJA’s 2007 annual convention in San Diego in August.

Among those active is the U-T’s Metro Photo Editor David Poller who is also a NLGJA national board member.

Latinos

There are two professional organizations for Latino journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the California Chicano News Media Association, both of which allow non-Latinos to become a member (including this diversity blogger).

Among those on the U-T’s staff involved include Hiram Soto, current vice president of the San Diego chapter of the CCNMA and Jennifer Vigil, Metro staff writer and former secretary of the local chapter of the CCNMA.
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For feedback, contact Leo E. Laurence at (619) 757-4909 or at leopowerhere@msn.com