More than 50 professionals from 15 countries took part in two online training workshops on Inclusive Journalism, held in June as part of the EU-funded project "Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Journalism" (AD&IJ)* under the Erasmus + Small Scale programme.
The 1st workshop “Inclusive Journalism: a path to a better representation” involved journalists and editorial teams and focused on practical strategies and methods for a respectful and free from stereotypes information. Exploring the ethical and business value of DE&I and of inclusive communication, it addressed 4 main areas: ethnicity, disabilities, LGBT+ and gender, providing an overview of the biases faced by underrepresented groups in the media, and underlining the importance of an intersectional approach. The workshop was particularly aimed at producing solutions that can overcome barriers such prejudices, stereotypes and exclusion, which take shape from macro and micro aggressions in different sectors. The hosts highlighted the need for inclusion and for a representative and collective vision, especially in the use of language, as driving forces for positive change.
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The 2nd workshop “Driving the Change: diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media industry” explored how to build more inclusive and diversified newsrooms and targeted media executives, HR managers and representatives of journalists' unions. Participants were made aware about strategies and models to draft more inclusive policies with a diverse workforce. Stressing again the importance of equal treatment and representation, the workshop tackled barriers like social and economic injustice and inequality, as well as issues of privilege and discrimination, portraying diversity as a strength, rather than a source of frailty. Studies were presented, showing how D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) skills can increase leader effectiveness. Overall, through individual and collective action, the workshop suggested to reflect social diversity in workplaces as well as in teams’ composition, thus contributing to overcoming biases, ignorance and indifference and fostering diverse workforce and inclusive cultures.
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These on-line events will be followed by two live meetings in Madrid and Milan, in autumn 2024.
* The Advancing Diversity & Inclusion in Journalism (AD&IJ) project aims to promote diversity and inclusion (D&I) in journalism by improving journalists' understanding of D&I values and practices in news coverage, raising awareness among news media organisations of the importance of having diversified newsrooms, indirectly reinforcing public trust in journalism, and developing useful and feasible Guidelines for a D&I-sensitive journalism.
Project leader: C.A.R.E.S. scrl-Osservatorio di Pavia. Partners: IFJ, COPEAM, Fondazione diversity ETS , Fundación para la diversidad.
