Pursue diversity as an element of quality journalism

Other Voices

Commentary

By Frank Blethen
Publisher and CEO, The Seattle Times

11.02.01

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Frank Blethen

At The Seattle Times, we believe that an unqualified commitment to diversity in content and staffing is inseparable from our commitment to independent journalism that serves and respects our readers.

For over 15 years, we have been relentless in our passion for and pursuit of diversity and journalism. There is no way for a newspaper to be connected with the community if it doesn’t reflect all faces and voices.

We have learned that diversity feeds on itself, just like good journalism does. As a newsroom and a workforce get comfortable with diversity, you can see them come to embrace and celebrate the richness of diversity. Diversity is a powerful tool that is the foundation for a creative workforce and for accurate, relevant journalism.

In our journey, we have learned there is no silver bullet or magic solution.

Publishers and editors will only impact diversity if they “walk the talk.” And walk it with persistence and passion.

People will believe what they see you do, not what you say. They’ll follow the leader who lives by his/her actions.

Communities are a mosaic, and newspapers need to reflect that, if they are to be relevant. Diversity within a newsroom is a powerful way to make our news reporting more accurate. That accuracy gives us reader connection and relevancy.

Diversity must be understood and pursued as an element of quality journalism. Part of that comes by having a diverse staff, but much of it comes through a simple journalistic dedication to understanding the world around us in terms other than our own.

The authenticity of our belief in equality and inclusion feeds our ambition to produce quality journalism. We can’t have one without the other.

I would sum up the leadership traits essential for a publisher or editor to communicate and achieve diversity as:

• Walk the talk.
• Connect diversity to journalistic accuracy and relevance.
• Be relentlessly persistent.
• Reinforce the message at every opportunity.
• Always recognize diversity achievements in content and staffing.

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Institute releases two-year examination of link between dedication to newsroom diversity, good journalism.  10.19.01

Newspaper leaders respond to Poynter study of newsroom diversity
San Jose Mercury News' David Yarnold, Seattle Times' Frank Blethen discuss how better news coverage stems from 'unanimity in the newsroom in support of diversity efforts.'  11.09.01