Reporters at a Norfolk, Va., newspaper warned Thursday of their
white “privileges” and “blind spots” in a newly launched series on
the city’s “racial divisions.”
In a tweet announcing its “Dividing Lines” project,
the�Virginian-Pilot stated, “For full disclosure, the people behind
this reporting are white and benefit from numerous privileges that
the disadvantaged populations highlighted in this project do not,
‘So we have blind spots.'”
For full disclosure, the
people behind this reporting are white and benefit from numerous
privileges that the disadvantaged populations highlighted in this
project do not, “So we have blind spots.”Meet the “Dividing Lines” team here:https://t.co/O4oGy9fUTm
— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot)
January 21, 2021
The disclosure showcases the growing trend among newsrooms to
put a discussion of their own racial representation at the
forefront of reporting.
In a similar move, the New York Times Guild said in
a memo last summer that the paper would move toward mirroring
the city’s exact racial demographics in its newsroom. The guild
claimed its concern with viewpoint diversity began a month before,
with an op-ed written by Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) that black
staff members said put them “in danger.”
“Our workforce should reflect our home: The Times should set a
goal to have its workforce demographics reflect the makeup of New
York City—24% Black and over 50% people of color—by 2025,” the
guild said in a tweet highlighting its memo’s recommendations.
Our workforce should reflect
our home: The Times should set a goal to have its workforce
demographics reflect the makeup of New York City—24% Black and
over 50% people of color—by 2025. (2/8)— NYTimesGuild (@NYTimesGuild)
July 31, 2020
The Virginian-Pilot reporters
detailed their “blind spots” in an article published alongside
their new series.
“We’re white,” the reporters begin. They go on to state that
they and their editor “grew up in white, suburban areas,” “went
through school with classmates who looked like us,” and now “live
in largely white neighborhoods and socialize in largely white
spheres.”
The writers then criticize their paper’s “spotty-at-best history
of covering the Black communities of Hampton Roads” and say their
current newsroom does not properly reflect the racial demographics
it covers.
“We work for a company that, by its own admission, is not
diverse enough,” they write. “We have seven Black journalists out
of a staff of 71 — not quite 10% — covering a region whose
major cities range from 20% to 55% Black.”
For the project, the reporters are consulting a Christopher
Newport University professor, who they have also disclosed is
white.
The Virginian-Pilot did not respond to a request for
comment.
The post
Virginia Paper Warns of White ‘Privileges’ and ‘Blind
Spots’ in Reporting appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.
