Diversifying our stories also means amplifying marginalised voices. Here is how to best approach people and communities of colour
We always want our stories to be as diverse as the communities we report on but it can be difficult to get a source to go on the record.
Melba Newsome, a former Reynolds Journalism Institute fellow, shared her advice for building up relationships with diverse sources.
Firstly, you need to 'school your source'. She said it was important for the person to fully understand what part they play in a story, so they do not feel disappointed or misled.
Secondly, journalists should 'build trust'. Newsome said: "while black Americans trust journalists in general, they did not necessarily trust journalists to cover black communities."
Finally, reporters should be culturally competent. In training journalists, newsrooms should be helping "staff develop the awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to actually listen, engage and build empathy for someone else’s experiences."
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