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Diversity And Workplace Issues:
A Report From The TNG Convention In Toronto, Canada
During the TNG Convention held in
Toronto, Canada in July 2007, Debbie Thomas, in her last
official function as a member of the Human Rights and Equity
Committee, was the moderator for a workshop covering
diversity and workshop issues. This discussion aimed at
seeking solutions for maintaining a diverse workforce
included a panel of distinguished union activists in print
and media: Lillian Covarrubias, a news assistant at the
Toledo Blade in Ohio; Vernon Clark, a reporter for the
Philadelphia Inquirer in Pennsylvania; and Michael D’Souza,
a producer in Toronto at the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC).
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Vernon
Clark reported on the effect of the sale of the
Philadelphia Inquirer in 2006 on the newsroom staff. Of
the 71 positions eliminated following the sale, 16 of
those laid-off were Black journalists. Even after some
of those Black journalists were brought back after the
layoffs, with previous cutbacks that had decimated the
staff, Vernon is now the only reporter
covering the African American community in Philadelphia.
What contributed to the lack of equal representation in
the Philadelphia Inquirer newsroom? According to Vernon,
the absence of contract language protecting minority
representation in the newsroom was a key contributor to
the loss of minorities, including Asian American and
Latinos staff, in the newsroom of the Philadelphia
Inquirer. |
Vernon was followed by Lillian Covarrubias, who spoke on
diversity versus seniority in the workplace, and how the
practice of LIFO (last in, first out) applied in layoffs,
combined with questionable hiring practices, has held down
the number of minorities at the Toledo Blade.
On a brighter note, Michael D’Souza of the Canadian Media,
had a more upbeat report on diversity at the CBC, and
believes that new hires at the CBC are somewhat reflective
of Toronto’s population.
Amid discussions
between the panel and workshop participants, potential
solutions were offered by TNG President Linda Foley, who
spoke on carve outs targeting minorities in order to
preserve diversity; and by Henry Holcomb, business reporter
at the Philadelphia Inquirer, who added that any diversity
officer position should be an official, budgeted position
reporting directly to the publisher. Workshop participants
also suggested other solutions such as outreach to potential
journalists at minority journalist conventions, and
partnerships with journalism schools.
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