Are students of color getting the inside scoop on what it takes to become news editors and producers?
Chasing the breaking news story. Writing the thoughtful, definitive
piece that will effect the course of history. Getting that byline and
the name-recognition that could lead to fame and fortune. These are
just a few of the lures that attract students to journalism schools and
careers as reporters.
As enticing as these may appear, the real power in journalism is in
editing — and according to the numbers, too few people of color
currently sit on these thrones of power.
“The critical thing is that editors are the folks who make the
decision on what stories are assigned, how they are covered, what the
play will be in the newspaper, and what the priorities of the
newspapers are,” says Veronica Jennings, diversity director of the
American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). “So certainly, you want
as much diversity as possible from the people who are making those
decisions.
“It’s hard to convince people that the real power [in television
news] is in producing and not in front of the camera,” she says. “But
if you want to be wielding significant power in this business, you need
to be thinking about editing.”
According to ASNE’s 1998 Newsroom Census, 9 percent of newsroom
supervisors are minorities, up from 1 percent in 1978. Minorities also
comprise 10.2 percent of copy and layout editors, up from 3 percent in
1978. (see Incredible Whiteness, page 40, for more newsroom
demographics).
“The numbers are disappointing,” says Todd Beamon, senior editor of
BET Weekend Magazine. “And there is no particular excuse for that, when
you have so many [minority] journalists who have good educations — who
have excellent educations — and who are well-experienced. There is
simply no excuse. They are there, and they are available.”
