Diversity & Inclusion
Mission Statement
The Beacon’s work is guided by our mantra “seek the truth and report it.” Our commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion is part of this truth. We recognize that the stories of historically marginalized communities have been overlooked in the field of journalism. As the field continues to grow and evolve, our mission is to foster an environment — outside and within The Beacon — that amplifies the voices, stories and experiences of historically marginalized communities.
We strive to represent the truth of how a multitude of identities impacts the lived experiences of students, faculty, administration and the UP community as a whole. Furthermore, we are committed to diversifying our staff, training and network to better reflect our community.
What guidelines does The Beacon use to report on stories about historically marginalized communities?
Along with the AP Stylebook, The Beacon trains our staff to abide by style guides and directories that are made by diversity journalism organizations that represent these communities. In following the guidelines that come from these organizations, our goal is to mitigate harmful language, use accurate language and terminology in our reporting and avoid harmful assumptions of our audience.
The following are style guides, directories and resources The Beacon uses:
The Open Notebook — Diversity Style Guides for Journalists
National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) Style Guide
National Association of Hispanic Journalist (NAHJ) Cultural Compliance Handbook
Native American Journalist Association (NAJA)
NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Stylebook
Does The Beacon have an anti-discrimination policy?
Yes, The Beacon has an anti-discrimination policy under our Beacon policies and procedures page that you can find here. We are committed to creating an environment that which all individuals are treated with respect and human dignity. Discrimination in terms of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any unlawful basis is not permitted at The Beacon. Grounds of discrimination by any staff member affiliated with The Beacon may result in discipline or termination.
Why does diversity, equity & inclusion matter in journalism?
In an age where media consumption is as high as ever, it is imperative to make diversity a key aspect of journalism. While some may see attention to diversity, equity & inclusion in journalism as “political correctness,” responsible journalist see such efforts as a way to accurately and helpfully serve their audience. News, politics, international affairs, immigration, climate, healthcare, education, art & culture, the economy — diversity is embedded within every major issue journalist write about. Our commitment to expanding our coverage and improving our newsroom at The Beacon is apart of our broader goal to bring truth and accuracy to everything we write.
