Commitment to Diversity
Making people feel seen and represented is what journalism is all about. Making sure that my staff has diversity in perspective and background is extremely important to me, as we are able to capture a breadth of topics from interesting and unique angles.
Diversity in Opinion
Diversity in opinion is something that is really important to me. Learning from someone who doesn't have the same lived experiences or perspective as me is something that can be really beautiful. However, sometimes opinion can be pushed too far. One of my staffers Kayla at the beginning of the year wanted to start off with a politcs-based article and also do a politics podcast. To me, this was an instant red flag, as I really try to make sure that our staff breaks out of the section that they are comfortable with, in Kayla's case, it was opinion, to make sure that they are accurately covering all journalistic bases. While I know Kayla had great intentions and really wanted to convey her point across, I personally felt it best that she discuss her opinion with someone who was from the opposite side, Paul, so they could learn from one another and understand each other's point of view. Since it was their first time ever doing a podcast, I wanted to make sure I gave them clear guidelines on how to be as successful as possible. Their first episode ended up being a massive success, and Politcs Please has been one of my favorite recurring installments we've had all year!
Diversity in Sourcing
Source diversity is something that my editors and I are consistently stressing. While it is easy to go back to dependable people for information, I make sure that my staffers are constantly seeking out sources that will provide something new and give a new insight into a story or event. For my "At the polls" story about Hagerty student polling versus how Florida actually voted, I interviewed seniors who voted during the election, who agreed with the Hagerty polling results. It was important to me that my story featured a diverse group of sources with unique perspectives that could provide their own insight into why they voted how they did.
Diversity in Writing
For my Q3 enhanced story last year, I wrote about the celebration of Black History Month at Hagerty. For this piece, I wanted to discuss all of the efforts made throughout February to celebrate Black History Month, both on the faculty and student sides. Hagerty BSU participated in events throughout the month, like a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, as well as a fashion showcase. To go with my story, I made a video about the faculty chili and sidedish cookoff held at the end of the month. It’s important to me as a reporter that I cover diverse topics and highlight all of the involved student groups and faculty at Hagerty, and I make sure that our paper is an inclusive space that showcases all types of events, people and initiatives.
Diversity on Staff
The Blueprint welcomes any Hagerty student on staff with open arms without discrimination against race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Having a diverse staff is important to our coverage, as it allows students from any background to feel heard. Of our 20 staffers, 5% are African American, 20% are Hispanic, 10% are Asian and 65% are white. We also have a diverse staff in terms of grade level and experience, as 40% are seniors, 35% are juniors and 25% sophomores, and 65% of our staff is new to our publication. During curriculum night, I promoted our program to families of all backgrounds, so we can have underrepresented groups and individuals at our school join.