Reader: More diversity needed in news
My interaction with Ashford Hughes began with a private message on Twitter.
I’d offered in a previous column to host anyone who wanted to visit The Tennessean’s newsroom to contact me. Hughes sent me a lengthy, very clear Twitter message. I’m reprinting his note here nearly in whole, with a few minor edits for clarity.
“I subscribe to the Sunday edition because it has the most content and coupons. I would subscribe to the entire week if the following occurred: IMO, there needs to be more authentic younger voices writing. Especially from communities of color. …. (There’s) not enough perspective from Black Nashville’s new voices of leadership. We need more space for the under 40 crowd to contribute commentary. I would like too see more in-depth community perspectives, i.e, from Antioch, Madison, North Nashville, Green Hills, etc. … I would pay to read more about local nonprofits helping shape Nashville. I would pay to read about the lives and experiences of local people and how that is shaping Nashville present and future.”
Hughes works as an assistant business manager for the Laborers International Union of North America; he’s also been very active in the Democratic party in the past.
His note got me excited, because he was asking for things that we are actively working on at The Tennessean. Increasing the diversity in our newsroom and in our pages; focusing more coverage on the issues affecting Nashville’s neighborhoods; and putting many, many more community voices in the newspaper.
I must be honest: finding a large pool of diverse talent to fill our newsroom and take on our new jobs has not been easy. I told Jacky Akbari that on Thursday, and and she agreed she’s heard the same. Akbari is the employer services director for Metro Government. We talked briefly: What can we do together to create a diverse workforce pipeline full of talent in Nashville?
Hughes came to visit me on Thursday, too, and we talked about his concerns. I explained why we’re making the changes we are, the struggles we’ve having, and the vision we have to truly connect with our customers and impact and influence a better quality of life in Middle Tennessee. By the time he left, he got it, and he left me this note on Twitter:
“Thank you to @StefanieMurray for the invite, tour and communication @Tennessean today. Glad to see and hear the positive changes happening.”
That invitation to visit The Tennessean is always open; email me and we’ll set up a time to have you stop by.
Stefanie Murray is the vice president and executive editor at The Tennessean. Contact her at smurray@tennessean, 615-259-8022 or @StefanieMurray on Twitter.