Amid layoffs and buyouts, industry insiders wonder whether diversity will become the “sacrificial lamb.”
SEE ALSO, Study: Shrinking Newsrooms Hurting Papers’ Quality
In a media advisory released earlier this month, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) had an urgent message for the newspaper industry: Diversity should not be treated like a passing fad and it should continue to be a top priority.
The advocacy organization, where a majority of its 4,000 members are Black print journalists, warned that it would hold the industry accountable if managers did not consider diversity in both their recruiting and firing practices.
The warning comes at a time when newspaper companies are issuing a shocking number of layoffs and buyout packages, leaving many concerned journalists questioning whether diversity will become the “sacrificial lamb” as newsroom managers and recruiters focus on the economy’s impact on newsrooms.
The most jarring layoff announcement came when The McClatchy Co., the nation’s third largest newspaper company, announced in June that it would slash 1,400 jobs — 10 percent of its work force. The company made the decision in an effort to cut costs as its advertising revenues continue to decrease.
