Diversity in British, Swedish, and German Newsrooms: Problem Awareness, Measures, and Achievements

Abstract

A core tenet of journalism is to contribute toward a functioning and healthy public sphere by ensuring transparency over issues and perspectives from different segments of society. However, it has become increasingly doubtful whether the news media can reflect the true diversity of society while lacking internal diversity in their newsrooms. In our study of three European countries (Germany, Sweden, and the UK), we assess how news organizations cope with the challenges of achieving diversity among their editorial staff and fostering a diversity-sensitive newsroom culture. Drawing on semi-standardized interviews with editors-in-chief and managing editors at 18 outlets, our analysis systematically regards different levels of influence following the model by Shoemaker and Reese (2014. Mediating the Message in the 21st Century: A Media Sociology Perspective. 3rd ed. London, New York: Routledge.). We aim at identifying issues and obstacles that news organizations need to overcome as well as strategies they can adopt to improve diversity in their newsrooms. Our results stress the importance of (1) personal commitment of people in leading positions, (2) close monitoring as a base for strategic management, (3) acknowledgment and promotion of different perspectives in daily newsroom routines, and (4) the reflection and addressing of structural inequalities inside and outside the organization.