The Importance Of Diversity In Media During Social Justice Movements

How representation alters the conversation.

by DESJAH ALTVATER ★ JUNE 12, 2020

In today’s world, the news has become as essential to our daily lives as drinking water. We constantly scroll through our social media accounts and rapidly click through television channels to ensure that we are up to speed on societal changes. As long as we are getting the news, is it even really important who reports or edits it?

Yes. 

The information we absorb has a direct influence on our perspective of the world and our relationship with it. In our information-obsessed culture, countless outlets and personalities are competing to be the first to break a story, rather than provide accuracy. In American culture specifically, the news revolves around people of color and the environments that we populate, however, reporters and writers are not amongst these demographics. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the procession of the Black Lives Matter movement, the importance of diversity in media is more important now than ever before.

Here’s why:

Perspective:

In our vocabulary, “diversity” is often partnered with the word “inclusion”. The media adores using these terms when seeking underrepresented voices and fulfilling diversity quotas, yet hire few people of color. As a result, the information that fellow news outlets and publications report on is often heavily biased when presenting to white audiences and using stereotypes to define a specific identifying group. According to WNYC, research proves that the media disproportionately depicts Black people as criminals as white people as victims. However, when diverse voices are behind the scenes, the news takes a more detailed direction, sharing facts from every angle of the story. 

Representation:

Credit: Politico

While there has been slight progress made in regards to covering communities of color, extensive work still needs to be done. According to Nieman Reports, Census projections indicate that minorities will become a majority in the U.S. by 2044. Despite these calculations, racial minorities are being disproportionately affected by various political, social, and economic efforts. However, very few outlets are reporting such atrocities and injustices. The media tells us who matters and what is important - and racial minorities rarely make the cut, unless they’re covering the stories. 

During the recent wide-spread protests, the news has predominantly focused on looting and vandalism committed by “protestors,” which distracts viewers from the real issues of police brutality . In reality,  many of these acts are being performed by extremists - mainly white individuals - who are putting Black protestors in danger. Though mainstream news outlets have not painted an accurate picture of the demonstrations, Black protestors have taken to social media to highlight peaceful demonstrations and dismiss biased claims.

The Omar Jimenez Incident:

Credit: TVLine

In the current climate of America, it should be no secret that Black people are discriminated against on a daily basis, often without provoking anything. Hence, the importance of Black reporters telling stories that affect the Black community. Though it was once believed that a nationally syndicated news logo, cameramen, and a microphone could save you, recent events dispel that theory. On May 29th, Afro-Latin, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, was covering the protests ignited by the death of George Floyd, when confronted by a phalanx of state policemen in riot gear. On live television, viewers witnessed how Jimenez and his team were handcuffed and arrested despite how calmly he identified himself as a CNN journalist and produced his credentials. According to the Guardian, the camera didn’t show a white journalist, also reporting for CNN, being treated with consummate politeness by police a few blocks away. Not only was Jimenez’s reporting important for the delivery of racial tension within America, but his sudden disappearance accurately represented the disparities we are fighting against and justice we are fighting for.

The media tells us our roles in society as well as who we are and what we can be. During social justice movements, we are brainwashed into thinking that diversity, especially within the media, is harmful to the purity of our nation. However, with diverse reporters and news curators, underrepresented audiences can assess information with trust towards outlets and witness the possibilities of who we can become. 

Cover photo credit: Widewalls