The Impact of Newsroom DEI on Climate Coverage

Silverline is in Boise, Idaho this month at the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 2023 Conference, which features an intriguing session on “How To Be an Ally for Environmental Journalists of Color,” moderated by The Uproot Project Director Lucia Priselac. The topic aligns with Silverline’s core values and commitment to diversity and inclusion. In fact, we recently published a comprehensive report on influential Black Leaders in Energy & Cleantech that seeks to elevate the valuable voices and perspectives of key leaders in this space.

Here are some of our takeaways from the session on supporting environmental journalists of color:

Journalists of color are vastly underrepresented in newsrooms, particularly when it comes to environmental journalism.A Pew Research Study from 2022found that newsrooms lack racial diversity. The report adds thatmore journalists say their organization does not have enough racial and ethnic diversity (52%) than say it does (32%).

Here are three key ways more diverse newsrooms create better stories:

1. Better representation: When newsrooms reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, they better represent different perspectives and experiences, leading to more accurate and nuanced reporting on environmental issues such as air quality, water quality, building efficiency, and transportation emissions.

2. Broader coverage: Environmental issues impact people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and journalists of color bring their unique experiences and perspectives to their reporting. This can lead to more compelling and impactful storytelling that resonates with a broader audience.

3. Increased trust: When newsrooms are diverse, they increase trust within underrepresented communities by signaling that these underrepresented voices and experiences are valued and taken seriously. Sources also may feel more comfortable confiding in journalists with backgrounds more similar to their own.

According to the same Pew Research study, fewer than half of the journalists surveyed say their organization places a great deal of focus on issues of diversity and inclusion at the workplace. While 42% indicate it is a major priority for their organization, 30% say it is a minor priority and 16% say it is not a priority at all. On a more positive note, 46% of the journalists surveyed say they discuss diversity with colleagues at least several times a month.

Stemming from the report are actions all journalists can take to support and advocate for their colleagues of color:

1. Listen and learn: Take the time to listen to your colleagues of color and learn from their experiences. This can help you better understand the unique challenges they face in the newsroom.

2. Speak up: When you see or hear bias or discrimination in the newsroom, advocate for your colleagues and support their work.

3. Mentor: Offer to mentor journalists of color in your newsroom or seek out mentorship opportunities for yourself. This can help build relationships and increase understanding across the spectrum of experience.

Increasing diversity in the newsroom is crucial for producing compelling stories that reflect the lived experiences of underrepresented and underserved communities, and this is particularly true for environmental issues, which especially impact communities of color. Ensuring diverse newsrooms results in news covering a wider range of issues, communities and perspectives, all of which are needed to effectively tell the stories of climate tech, clean energy and climate justice.