Does UK media reflect our diverse society?
0 comments
According to the latest NUJ statistics 94% of journalists are white, yet one in six of the British population is not. This lack of representation, together with how matters of race are covered in the media has been seen as ‘institutional racism’ (McPherson report 99).
- Author Chimamanda Nozi Adichie once said “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” Unfortunately the lack of diverse voices in the media mean that BAME communities are often invisible or the way they are depicted frequently reinforces certain negative stereotypes.
In a recent poll by the Runnymede Trust found that 4 out of 5 people believe that media coverage of ethnic minorities promotes racism. The impact of this can now be seen in employment, education and in the way which we view ourselves and each other.
The UK media (both right wing and the liberal media) needs to address this lack of diversity – diverse society – and takes some serious measures to increase the ethnic staff pool at editorial and board level.
