A new role to promote journalists from underrepresented groups
Lack of diversity in the newsrooms has an impact on the coverage of news and can result in the exclusion of significant groups of the society and their interests or issues. British TV production company ITN has come to the conclusion that it needs to address the issue and has hired its first Editorial Diversity Partner – a new role working across ITN’s three newsrooms – ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News, and ITN Productions.
For the new role, the company has appointed Ronke Phillips, Senior Correspondent for ITV News London. The company says the position is rooted within editorial teams to support ITN’s commitment to developing the careers of journalists from underrepresented groups into middle and senior editorial roles in news and production.
ITN says she will identify opportunities to grow and promote talented journalists from under-represented groups across ITN’s newsrooms and production areas.
“By supporting the upwards move of journalists from a wider range of backgrounds she will help ensure that diversity is embedded throughout ITN as an organisation, including in the rooms where the most critical editorial decisions are taken.”
“The role is intended to build on the progress ITN has already made through its 2020 Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Action Plan, with a focus on sharing best practice across the newsrooms and ensuring there is diverse representation at key editorial, decision-making meetings.”
“I’m very glad to have this opportunity to work for real change on editorial diversity and inclusion in all our newsrooms and ITN Productions and to champion diversity in all its forms for our employee networks”, Phillips says.
”An inclusive workplace doesn’t just have a diversity of people, it has a diversity of people involved, developed and empowered.”
Ronke Phillips is a multi-award winning journalist, she is currently Senior Correspondent at ITV News London. Her career as a journalist includes print, radio and television, as a presenter and reporter in both national and regional media, in the UK and abroad. Through her journalism and wider work in the industry, she has built a strong reputation as a champion for greater representation within the media.
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