why diversity – Ryerson Review of Journalism :: The Ryerson School of Journalism http://rrj.ca Canada's Watchdog on the watchdogs Sat, 30 Apr 2016 14:26:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Why are we still talking about diversity? http://rrj.ca/why-are-we-still-talking-about-diversity/ http://rrj.ca/why-are-we-still-talking-about-diversity/#respond Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:58:05 +0000 http://rrj.ca/?p=8053 Why are we still talking about diversity? “Is it Fateeema?” asked two editors interviewing me in a boardroom much too big for a three-person meeting. I tried to impress them with three story ideas: something about transit, something about local politics and something about immigration. They asked follow-up questions about the third one—How did I think of the story? What are the main issues? [...]]]> Why are we still talking about diversity?

“Is it Fateeema?” asked two editors interviewing me in a boardroom much too big for a three-person meeting. I tried to impress them with three story ideas: something about transit, something about local politics and something about immigration. They asked follow-up questions about the third one—How did I think of the story? What are the main issues? How would the story come together?—even though I thought the second was better developed and delivered.

For the first time, I was concerned that becoming a journalist in Canada might mean accepting that I would probably be placed in a box. It’s a box many people have written about and many still live in. Historically, these voices are rarely heard, so now every time I don’t get a job, I wonder if it has anything to do with my name or my ethnicity.

For too long, the white landscape of Canadian journalism has stood on excuses, such as:

  • “We don’t get a diverse pool of applicants.”
  • “We couldn’t find anyone qualified.”
  • “We don’t have the resources.”
  • “It’s just the way things are.”
  • “We tried our best.”

When did the conversation get stuck on repeat? …

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