Reporting the News Inclusively

This year’s radio and television broadcast has been marked by stories reflecting wide-scale issues involving equity and inclusion in our country. And while reporters and broadcasters have endeavored to detail these events fairly and objectively, at times facing harassment and personal risk for doing so, these crises have revealed that the news industry itself faces many of the same challenges. 

To explore these topics, the SAG-AFTRA President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach & Engagement hosted Covering the Story of Race on Dec. 1. The panel included anchor and WGN Chicago political reporter Tahman Bradley, NBC/Telemundo anchor and reporter Lucy Bustamante, and KPCC L.A. veteran and criminal justice reporter Emily Elena Dugdale. Moderating the discussion was Carolyn Tyler, retired ABC7 San Francisco anchor and reporter well known for her years of covering social, economic and political issues in the Bay Area.

During the panel, speakers drew from current events to discuss how the continued lack of diversity in the media has impacted newspersons and audiences. Bustamante and Dugdale stated that a lack of diversity among higher-ranked news positions such as producers, editors and news directors haven’t only led to issues in how stories are framed, but a disconnect in the media’s understanding of its audiences, particularly regarding individuals belonging to minority and fringe communities.

“There are stations that don't have good demographic information on their audience and it makes it hard to know who you are talking to,” said Dugdale. “We need to understand that we are reaching a lot of different people and identities and places. It is not fair to just say, ‘We will reach them,’ [if we’re not sure] who we’re even talking about.”

Members shared their personal experiences and ways long-lasting, systemic change could be brought to the industry, including mentorship for aspiring journalists to lessen barriers of entry and other forms of meaningful allyship.

To watch the livestream, scroll below, and for other PTEOE livestreams, visit the SAG-AFTRA YouTube channel. Broadcasters, for more information about safety in the field and increasing your mental resilience, watch these videos featuring experts from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism’s Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma:

• Dart Center Trauma Awareness & Self-Care
• Dart Center: Covering Street Protests & Civil Unrest

The views expressed by the guests are their own and not that of SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply SAG-AFTRA’s endorsement.