NEWSROOM DIVERSITY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO REDUCED INEQUALITIES (SDG 10)

Abstract

Diversity of newsrooms is also a key aspect of reinforcing the Sustainable Development Goal 10, which aims at lowering the inequalities within and among societies. Media is a key determinant of the formation of the common discourse, democratic involvement awareness, and the possibility of upraisal of the voices of the marginalized groups; therefore, the presence of diversity in newsrooms has a direct influence on social equity. Journalism has historically been known to be biased on many occasions with the majority groups omitting women, the minorities, Dalits, the indigenous people, and other groups that are underrepresented. A professionalized newsroom, in contrast, has a better representation in that it features different faces in terms of gender, caste, race, class, ethnicity, and language such that accurate representations and fair judgment on who gets to tell the stories is achieved. Not only does this increase the coverage area but it also breaks the stereotypes, eliminates discrimination in a system, and enhances responsibility. Inclusive newsrooms help to create more equitable structures, advance justice, and socially cohesion because of the legitimization of plural voices and the representation of the diverse society. Thus, newsroom diversity would be a democratic necessity and a changing process to attain SDG 10.