At the workplace, you’re told to be open about cultural and racial differences. You’re told to minimize bias. You’re told to embrace diversity and inclusion. A brand-new toolkit, developed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), just might help you to reach that goal.
“At a time when issues of race relations have sparked new conversations throughout our society, NAB hopes this toolkit helps equip journalists with the expertise to cover news events fairly and accurately from all points of view,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith.
Listen up. Though written for journalists, this toolkit could be useful for anyone charged with improving diversity and inclusiveness at the workplace. Here are the common traps –and tips–from the toolkit:
1. So, you feel more comfortable around people like yourself?
The robust 21st-century work environment demands just the opposite. You need a variety of viewpoints, a range of sound posts. The toolkit recommends: “Seek out voices that are seldom heard and remain open to viewpoints with which you may personally disagree.”
2. Do you still gather your news from the same, old trusted sources?
The toolkit recommends: “Develop listening posts throughout the community, including online and social media conversations as well as gathering spots where you can discover ways of thinking and ways of life that may not be reflected in your newsroom (think, your work site). Differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, income, and education can influence where, how and whether people share their interests and concerns.”
3. Consider the words and phrases that you use to describe people, communities, and groups. What one set of listeners might derive from your presentation might sound entirely different to another.
The toolkit recommends: “Be careful about the use of descriptive words that overstate a situation or conjure up a negative mental picture. For instance, during coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, some media outlets erroneously described New Orleans residents who had evacuated the city as “refugees,” which usually connotes armed or political conflict. Similarly, words and phrases such as "disadvantaged," "high-risk" and "inner city" can create negative feelings in some communities.”
4. Does your office database read like a “good old” friends network of long-time professional and business associates?
The toolkit recommends: “Develop a comprehensive database of diverse sources across a broad spectrum of topics, including experts, politicians, public servants, practitioners, professionals, activists, community organizers, etc.
5. How often do you seek feedback from your customers, clients, and various audiences?
The toolkit recommends: “Develop a list of organizations with which your company should maintain a positive, ongoing relationship and make plans to meet with their leaders. Ask for invitations to their meetings and invite them to visit the station.”
