NEW ORLEANS — September 22, 2022 — The founder and director of institutional research for The Diversity Pledge Institute at the Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (DPI) spoke Monday at the senior leadership conference of America’s Newspapers.
“Having the opportunity to talk directly with the people in the best position to create meaningful change within their newsrooms for journalists from diverse backgrounds was fantastic,” Larry Graham, DPI founder and executive director, said. “And by giving them some basic tools they can use to help make their newsrooms more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible, my hope is that they are now better prepared to make changes within their organizations.”
The conference, held Oct. 16-18 in New Orleans, brought together newspaper publishers, owners and leaders for three days to discuss the challenges facing newspapers and potential solutions.
“It was great to be able to have these conversations and learn more about the issues facing newspapers from the leadership perspective,” Gaby Martinez-Stevenson, director of institutional research at DPI, said. “And while we know our session was just the beginning of a much larger conversation, we are confident the news leaders who attended now have a roadmap to continue it with their own newsrooms as they work together to develop the necessary strategies needed for change.”
This session built upon the work DPI has done over the past year through its Learning Circles program and Newsroom Diversity Survey pilot as well as its partnerships with organizations such as The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, Editor & Publisher, News Revenue Hub and Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Later this week, Graham will also be featured on a panel at Investigative Reporter and Editor’s symposium on diversity and inclusion that will show journalists from diverse backgrounds how they can advocate for better pay in their newsrooms.
“We know that there is a discrepancy between what journalists from diverse backgrounds make and what their white male counterparts make,” Graham said. “By giving people the tools they need to advocate for themselves, we’re helping them to break down those barriers that hold journalists from diverse backgrounds back.”
About The Diversity Pledge Institute — The Diversity Pledge Institute at the Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (DPI) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) dedicated to research, analysis and education related to diversity in journalism. Our goal is to solve the diversity pipeline problem; improve retention rates associated with diversity, equity and inclusion; and support journalists’ career growth. We prioritize peer-to-peer training and career learning for journalists while offering ongoing organizational support for diversity and inclusion efforts in media. You can support that work by making a tax deductible donation here.
