Latest E&P "Exclusive" on Diversity

Serving immigrant communities with Chinese-language news

One of Jin Ding's first actions as CEO of Initium was moving its headquarters from Hong Kong — where it had been since it was founded nine years ago — to Singapore. Despite the move, Initium still reports on Hong Kong and mainland China with a network of trusted freelancers. This Chinese-language digital news site also is seeking to expand its reach and serve the growing number of Millennial and GenZ Chinese who have made their way to the U.S. over the past decade.
Recent E&P "Diversity Spotlight Exclusives"

The Pivot Fund: Expanding to explore community-driven journalism in the Midwest

An ambitious research project by The Pivot Fund is focused on the Great Lake states. The project aims to better understand the news landscape in the region and help identify news and information sources that have specifically earned the trust of communities of color. Pivot began its Midwest survey in Minnesota in early 2024, and it should be completed this month. The project also includes news ecosystem studies in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

NLGJA’s ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ journalists: Progress, challenges and a vision for the future

The DEI movement continues to face many challenges, including deep-seated fears, prejudices and unwarranted barriers. The LGBTQ+ community has experienced significant progress but remains diligent and proactive. Increasing positive coverage in news and media and more LGBTQ+ journalists in many newsrooms have been central to that effort.

Borealis Philanthropy’s bold plan: Investing billions to support BIPOC journalism

E&P got an early preview of the study Alicia Bell launched as part of her work as the director of the Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund at Borealis Philanthropy. Titled “Repair, Reimagine, and Rebuild: Modeling the Future of News For and By Black, Brown, and Indigenous Communities,” the report proposes it will take somewhere between $380 million to $7.1 billion annually to truly fund BIPOC journalism across the U.S.

Sahan Journal grows from startup to journalism powerhouse

In 2019, the Sahan Journal was established as a nonprofit media operation led by veteran journalist Mukhtar M. Ibrahim. The mission was to provide news to communities of color in and around Minneapolis. By October of last year, it had secured $7.4 million from funders and raised another $2 million from advertising and individual donations. It’s funding a newsroom staffed with people from diverse backgrounds.

The challenge and promise of Press Forward: Funding the nation’s local newsrooms for the future

Data from Medill School of Journalism’s often-cited annual study, which examines the health of local news nationwide, explains the motivation for launching Press Forward last September. The initiative aims to rally major national foundations to reverse the trend of a shrinking news landscape.

Black women leaders in journalism: Breaking barriers, forging the future

Over the past year, Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, president of the Society of Professional Journalists; LaSharah Bunting, CEO and executive director of the Online News Association; and Karen Rundlet, CEO and executive director of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), have stepped into the lead role at three of the most influential news associations, each as the first Black woman to hold the post. In interviews with E&P, they spoke about their new roles, how they got there and how they hope to advance their individual organizations and journalism writ large.

The Intersection Magazine: Redefining local reporting

If you visit the web page of The Intersection Magazine, you’ll notice something unique. The subject titles contain pairings: “PG Politics + Religion” and “Health + Politics.” This is intentional, said its founder, Delonte Harrod: “As a Black reporter trained in the  Black press, that is how Black people live their lives. I will say I think it’s universally how people live their lives.”

Investigative teams lack diversity per NAHJ study

Over the last few years, news leaders have discussed diversity at conferences and launched initiatives to address historical disparities in their reporting and their ranks. However, a recent study shows little traction in making actual change in the most elite sector of newsrooms.

MLK50 takes on ‘poverty, power and policy’ in Memphis

“Justice through journalism” is MLK50’s mission. Celebrating seven years in Memphis, Tennessee, the nonprofit newsroom honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, courageously producing journalism for the city’s marginalized communities.

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Perfect strangers feel like they know Ayesha Rascoe. Currently, Rascoe hosts NPR's “Weekend Edition Sunday,” and she co-hosts NPR’s “Up First” podcast with Scott Simon. The roles allow her to tell stories across genres. She interviews artists, authors, musicians, public officials, politicians and experts in a spectrum of subject matters.
At least one segment of the news media community is making measurable strides to create more diverse, equitable and inclusive newsrooms. According to a 2023 study, nonprofit news outlets are leading the charge. Published on Oct. 24 by the Institute for Nonprofit News, “The INN Index 2023: Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Nonprofit News Sector” summarizes a survey of INN’s members — more than 425 members from across North America.
In July 2023, the Los Angeles Times unveiled “De Los,” described as a new “community-driven brand and platform” expressly for Latino audiences across metropolitan Los Angeles and the country. Three months in, E&P asked De Los’ Editorial Director Fidel Martinez and Design Director Martina Ibañez-Baldor about the mission and hopes for De Los. 
As the zeitgeist for Indigenous stories grows in all media platforms, news outlets across the country are faced with the question, “How can we ensure those crucial stories are captured and represented authentically in the archives?” The answer boils down to addressing the ethics of the journalism profession and overlaying that understanding with the Indigenous perspective.
You may have noticed the #AAJAFamily hashtag trending on social media this summer. That's how members of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) describe the organization and its annual conference to E&P, “like a family.” E&P reached out to AAJA officers and members to hear about their experiences at AAJA23 and what this organization has meant to them professionally and personally.
Industry News on Diversity
Building on the expanding connection that Spanish audiences have established with its digital content over the past few years, CNN en Español has launched a 24-hour streaming channel in Spain, now available on Rakuten TV and closely followed by Samsung TV Plus on Oct. 16, and LG Channels later this month.
FOX News Media will launch a new daily one-hour Spanish-language program entitled “FOX Noticias” that spotlights issues impacting the Hispanic community beginning Oct. 15, announced FOX News Senior Vice President John Sylvester.
Bryan Pollard recently helped organize a Global Indigenous Journalists Convening in partnership with IJA, AP and Grist, where Indigenous journalists from around the world came together to discuss the possibility of expanding reporting collaborations.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), in partnership with the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA), is excited to launch the Excelencia Awards and NextGen Benefit, a prestigious gala celebrating excellence in Hispanic journalism and supporting the future of Latino journalists.
The Diversity Pledge Institute (DPI) is scaling its programs to foster more equitable hiring practices, identify the next generation of journalism’s C-suite executives and improve the retention rates and advancement of journalists and product leaders from diverse backgrounds, thanks to a three-year, $250,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.