This document discusses resources for improving multicultural coverage and representation in media. It notes that newsrooms are becoming more diverse but there may still be unintentional bias. It recommends ensuring non-whites are not underrepresented or portrayed only negatively, comparing groups unfairly, or relying too heavily on few spokespeople. Coverage of diversity issues should go beyond token events and include diverse sources for all stories. Resources for several minority journalist associations are also listed.

1. Multicultural Resources

2. Demographics
• Media staffs are becoming more diverse in
response to criticisms of “white male” bias
• Many critics believe that there is an
unintentional bias in the choice of words and
angles used in the reporting of stories
focusing on non-whites
– Be careful of “white at the center” terminology

3. Hot Topics
• Multiculturism media critics argue:
– Non-whites underrepresented
– Non-whites are disproportionably mentioned in
negative context
– Unfair comparisons are made between different
ethnic groups
– Over-reliance on select group of ethnic
“spokespersons” to represent the entire ethnic
group

4. Multicultural Coverage
• Diverse reporting needs to be consistent
– Beyond “token” coverage of events, such as
“Black History Month,” etc.
• Sources should be diverse – even on stories
that are not “diversity-related”
• Recognize that there is complex diversity
within each respective culture

5. Online Resources
• Asian American Journalists Assn.
• National Assn. of Black Journalists
• Maynard Institute
• National Assn. of Hispanic Journalists
• National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Assn.
• Native American Journalists Assn.

6. Online Resources
• There are resources to help you cover issues
that involve disabilities
• The Center for an Accessible Society
• Disability Resources on the Internet
• Disability Data

7. Writing the Story
• Identify the ethnicity and/or disability only if it
relevant to the story
• Be careful not to use “code words” with
presumed negative meanings
– Examples:
– “ghetto”
– “underprivileged”

8. Terminology
• Racial categorizations are often controversial
and contested
• Here are some current guidelines:
– American Indian/Native American or Alaska
Native
– Asian or Pacific Islander/Asian American
– Black/African American
– Hispanic/Latino
– White