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May 10, 2003
Here's a good one for
Here's a good one for you, from Poynter, about diversity:
"Was I hired because I'm black?" Embedded in the question is the fear that diversity is what its detractors and, unfortunately, many journalists mindlessly suggest it is: a zero-sum equation in which you are either black or qualified.My answer to her: Yes and no. Why yes? We met at Newsday's minority job fair. My newspaper was looking for more journalists of color, especially black journalists. Her race and our goals brought us together.
Why no? Because I met a lot of people that day who didn't get hired. I met a lot of journalists who weren't ready for a mid-sized newspaper like The Times-Picayune. I met people who couldn't write the way she could, who didn't have her creativity, confidence, or potential.
The whole thing is worth a quick read...
Posted by Andrew at May 10, 2003 02:21 PM