Inclusion has been a major topic of discussion in newsrooms in recent years, both in terms of the lack of diversity of newsroom staff as well as the lack of relevant perspectives when a minority group’s issues are covered. In a similar vein, the topic of sensitivity has also been a focus of attention. Accurately and mindfully reporting on unique issues affecting minority communities is something that has not always been well-executed in newsrooms, and this is something that can occur in less obvious circumstances.
The most obvious (but sadly still commonly botched) way that newsrooms can express better sensitivity is through accurate coverage. For example, if a journalist were to air a story about transgender activism, it is crucial to get a transgender interviewee’s pronouns right, whether in the script or in the lower-third graphics. That isn’t to say getting a person’s title or name wrong is ever acceptable, but getting a transgender person’s pronouns wrong can especially come across as a sign of ignorance or disrespect. Understanding this distinction can express sensitivity to the trans community, but this is only one dimension of newsroom sensitivity.
A less obvious, yet equally important, area of sensitivity is how journalists conduct themselves behind the scenes, whether it be in the newsroom or in the field. For example, a few weeks ago Annenberg TV News (ATVN) was covering the Trans Day of Visibility and gathered perspectives from trans USC students and alumni. The issue that arose in producing this story actually had nothing to do with the coverage but rather the way journalists were talking about the interviewees in the virtual newsroom.
More than one journalist did not refer to one of the trans students by their preferred non-binary gender pronouns, which are they/them. Regardless of the journalists’ intentions, the issue was that if one journalist makes that mistake and goes unchecked then it has the potential to become more pervasive.
Another less-obvious behind-the-scenes dimension of sensitivity involves reporting, especially when reaching out to individuals for comment. When a reporter reaches out to a person for comment about a story which negatively affected that person, it is important to be sensitive to how they are asked for comment and even who reaches out to them. Doing so insensitively can easily confuse or trigger some of the emotions being experienced by the individuals affected.
When ATVN was recently covering anti-Asian hate crimes, for example, a reporter reached out to an Asian student for comment. That individual then posted about the exchange on social media to express frustration about it, likely because they were chosen solely based on their race by a reporter who did not know them. Our team became aware of the situation and agreed that what happened was not only avoidable but also that more sensitivity training needs to happen in newsrooms.
More sensitivity training and diversity in the newsroom are clearly interrelated and are a step toward improving newsroom inclusivity and productivity, but it doesn’t stop there. Building more diverse sources and better educating ourselves on a range of issues like the ones mentioned above are key to more representative and more sensitive coverage, especially in less obvious circumstances.
Correction on April 27 8:00 p.m. One unnamed individual’s pronouns were updated to better reflect their preferred pronouns.