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The Post has long been struggling with an apparent lack of diversity in their ranks, a reflection of the sad fact that much of American journalism remains dominated by white reporters, editors, and managers. In late 2004 Post staffers openly expressed their unhappiness that a white man had been chosen over a woman and a black man to be the paper's managing editor, and, more recently, there were grumblings over the promotion of Robert McCartney, who is white, to the position of Metro assistant managing editor, beating Hispanic City Editor Gabe Escobar to the punch.
Yesterday that lack of diversity was made apparent at the Washingtonian and the City Paper. Today we join the club, recognizing that we're no more able to call ourselves truly representative of the city we cover.
In yesterday's issue, the City Paper fired the lack-of-newsroom-diversity shot straight at the Washingtonian, and, in effect, back at itself. In an article titled "Brown v. Board of Washingtonian," writer John Metcalfe and head honcho Erik Wemple wrote:
In a city that’s about 60 percent black, the newsroom of the Washingtonian is full of minorities, from white Editor Jack Limpert and pale-skinned Senior Editor Sherri Dalphonse to approaching-beige Editor-at-Large Garrett Graff to the appropriately named Lifestyle Editor Leslie Milk. In fact, the Washingtonian’s commitment to this version of diversity is so strong that you’ll be hard-pressed to find even a swatch of D.C.’s signature skintone within the newsroom. Nor are there many traces of the Hispanic, Asian, or other ethnicities that supposedly provide the rest of the city’s "flavor."Of course, in pointing fingers at the Washingtonian, the City Paper was obliged to point back at itself, finding that it's not in any better a position than the target of their article. Staff writer Huan Hsu, who is Chinese-American (though he fights that categorization), was picked to pen the critical self-assessment, writing:
Good for the Washington City Paper for calling out the Washingtonian for its lily-white editorial staff. Nothing gets an alternative weekly going like hypocrisy, and I’m glad we’ve decided to be this week’s champion of diversity. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we’re the right paper to do that. A look at our masthead reveals a decided lack of diversity at Champlain Street. Editor in chief: white guy (and a gentrifier, too). Arts editor: white guy. Senior editor: white guy. Senior writer: white guy. Copy editor: white woman.We're not here to criticize. We applaud the City Paper for not only taking on the notoriously fluffy Washingtonian, but also recognizing that it's in no better position to judge.
And given that we're all about disclosure ourselves, it goes without saying that we've fared no better on the diversity front. DCist has always been led by white men -- Mike Grass and Rob Goodspeed, the site's founders and first lead editors, are both of the caucasian persuasion, and now Ryan and I have the distinct pleasure of being not only white and blond, but up until recently, both bearded. You couldn't pick a leadership less representative of the city we seek to understand, experience, and write about.
Of course, much of this is beyond our control. Even more than traditional journalism, the blogosphere largely remains the province of young white folks with some money and time to spare. I think it was said best when someone referred to our writers and readers as "iPod-owning yuppies." But since we don't have the resources nor the time to correct that obvious inequity, we're stuck with a staff that, while diverse in their upbringings and chosen professions, is still largely homogenous -- and white.
Obviously, I think it's dangerous to assume that just because someone is African-American, Asian, or Hispanic they will suddenly be able to claim monopoly on stories that involve "their people." I'm as lily-white as they come -- hell, I was born in Switzerland -- but grew up in Latin America, so I feel I can safely navigate Hispanic quarters, though I may get strange looks in the process. And while Hemal has strong Indian roots, we're not going to look to her on every occasion that something India-related crosses our desks. It is true that first impressions go a long way, though, and we may have more luck cracking or understanding big stories on politics and culture in Shaw, Anacostia and other traditionally black neighborhoods if we pick up a few more African-American writers.
In the end, we know we're no City Paper, no Washingtonian, and surely no Post. But we fully recognize that our writing will only come to reflect the city and area in which we live when we diversify the ranks. That diversity means more than skin tone -- it means jobs, it means places of residence, it means political affiliations, it means education, it means future aspirations. It's a work in progress, and if you want to help, please let us know.
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Before this debate gets out of hand we should all remember that diversity is actually "an old wooden ship that was used during the civil war era" so all we need is to go to the Navy Yard and build one. On the way we can chop down some trees. Good idea?
While I believe diversity should be encouraged in most every social activity, journalistic businesses included, the reasons for DC's lack of journalistic diversity aren't necessarily sinister. While there certainly should be outreach and recruiting to promote diversity, current efforts may not be lacking. There may simply not be as many people of minority background that are passionate about writing, and interested in practicing and excelling at it. You can't just pick a non-white person, hire them, and assume they'll be a great writer instantly. Just like a white writer, access to educational, cultural, and even purely pulpy, entertaining writing programs, as well as encouragement to write (both specific assignments and very open-ended ones are beneficial, I think), are necessary tools/environments to help anyone become a better author.
Going back to the debate from "Kojo Discusses Development in the District" (http://www.dcist.com
/archives/2006/03/01/kojo_discusses_1.php#comments), I strongly believe that an open education and other interrelated experiences can be used as tools to help people achieve all sorts of goals. That's one more reason why people who think over-education is a problem are merely jealous. The problem is, intellectually and philosophically open education is rarely free. And I think it should be.
Three cheers for free intellectually and philosophically open education!
Yeah...I know it's kinda a pipe dream at this point in a way. But it's something we could work towards (I already do have a long-term consulting job helping the Dept. of Education give student loans and grants, although my firm also has admittedly shadier security contracts).
But catch me on the street, propose a topic or ask me something, and I'll drop some knowledge. I don't claim to be an expert on much (although I'm a dabbler in tons of areas), but there's rarely any harm in a thoughful discussion.
Well, speaking as the only, um, "diverse" member of my particular media entity, give DC time. Pretty soon, you folks at DCist, the Post and City Paper will exactly represent the population of the nation's capital.
Although I'm one of those from the Kojo discussion who does believe overeducation exists (and I promise I'm not jealous--I'm perfectly happy with my BA and not interested in further schooling), I also don't think the lack of diversity is a return to Jim Crow. In particular, DCist appeals to a particular audience (bloggers and people who read blogs, the young white folks you mention). And Washingtonian readers? Is there any whiter demographic on Earth? You might as well call it the Northern Virginia Republican Digest.
There are, of course, plenty of black journalists working at local and community publications in this town. So we know they're there; your putting out this call for them is the best you or any other publication can do.
I couldn't agree with donmiguel more. The city is changing to match the staff of the newsrooms and content providers faster than they'll be able to worry about who is represented.
As far as "diversity," don't worry about writing things from any particular perspective, just be open to covering more types of stories, maybe giving some thought to going out of your way to write about something "outside your own 5 blocks" as my friends and I say.
I love the content of dcist, and taking it for what it is, I've never considered it to be TOO whitebread. :) But maybe you can continue to solicit a more diverse staff with posts just like this.
As you say, Martin, the DCist staff's races may not represent DC itself but they do seem very representative of DCist's audience and target demographic. (also, might I point out, your gender diversity credentials are pretty much in order.) It doesn't seem to me that DCist seeks to cover the entire city, but to cover the interests of and issues affecting its readership, who are pretty much iPod-owning yuppies AFAICT.
Diversity is a nice buzzword but considering the lack of racial diversity an automatic bad thing makes me wonder what DCist sees its role to be. Just who reads DCist, who is underserved by it, and should it matter?
"While there certainly should be outreach and recruiting to promote diversity, current efforts may not be lacking. There may simply not be as many people of minority background that are passionate about writing, and interested in practicing and excelling at it. You can't just pick a non-white person, hire them, and assume they'll be a great writer instantly."
There a loads of professional writers of color in DC; how could there not be? I'm a writer and head up a group of writers. My people work at the Post, non-profit publications, etc. Most of my friends have their own publications/webzines/web sites.
What we find is that our perspective is not usually the one wanted by the editors. If it's a white publication, marketed to whites, written by
whites, then chances are the whites want it to stay that way.
The diversity grandstanding is sort of wierd for me because of my experiences interviewing with editors who loved my work until I showed up for the interview with my not-white self.
Ultimately the truth is this: diversity is a nice idea but it is unlikely to happen at dcist or any other publication.
It's not all bad though, it galvanizes "us".
It galvanizes me, too...that people censor the ideas and voices of others. It is hard to live a happy, expressive life without a voice.
I just wish you'd include me in your "us." I may not be an ethnic minority, but unless you would like to live in an all black world, it shouldn't matter. What should matter are the goals, changes, and social progress that I think we probably share in common.
And for the record, I just have a B.A...and still, I bet some people consider that to be overeducated.
Dude! Didn't the Muzak people teach you anything!? It's just a matter of time before you get a cease and desist letter from Wonder accusing you of trademark infringement, adding "next time someone says Wonder Bread is just white bread, don’t jump to conclusions. That’s not Wonder’s game, We've got wheat, and even pumpernickle."
Indie I like my world and it isn't all Black, not at all. The goals, changes, and social progress commonly shared by the human race residing in DC definitely matter but I have to contend with reality. Until people of conscious and character are in power, people of color will always have a different set of goals, changes, and social progress issues that greatly differ from the majority.
The mothers, as we call them, have a saying: you have to be twice as good to get half a chance. This is still true.
I'm Black, a homeowner, got a good job and if I'm quiet you'll assume things about me that aren't true. That's my "a day in the life of". I embrace the things we have in common but the struggle continues to make them just common things.
Well, I'm a gay DCist reader, and I'm woefully underserved, as are the dozens of others gays and lesbians who read this daily. Really, we want what straight readers want--what are the fun gay nights at bars, etc. Nothing much, just something gay.
I'm Black, a homeowner, got a good job, and if I'm quiet you'll assume things about me that aren't true.
Your point is well taken, okwell...but of course, I'm white, a homeowner, got a good job, and if I'm quiet you'll assume things about me that aren't true...
Well, maybe this provides a good opportunity to try to diversify the views on DCist. Why not contact UDC's Mass Media Program and see is they have students interested in contributing. I bet it would be more interesting than most of the Opinionist so far.