APSE president's message

Why can't it just be a bunch of newspaper folks? Why does it have to be white, and why does it have to be liberal? You bring those delimiters into the conversation yourself, because you can't face anything that doesn't smack of political overtones.

For all you know, a black conservative could believe that diversity isn't a pressing issue in our profession right now.

 

Because it's a case of "good enough for others, but not good enough for me."

Because it's hypocritical.

 

You guys should really ask your readers if diversity is an important factor when deciding where they get their news from.

 

Dude, do you really think it's the main decision-makers camping out here? WE'RE not the ones asking the readers. We can think what we wanna think; it comes down to what the glass offices think.

 

People in burning buildings don't care about diversity among firefighters either.

That's not the point.

 

This is a key point that the newspaper industry -- particularly small newspapers -- has struggled with for decades. When the NYT wants to hire a minority, they're probably lining up. When the Daily Podunk Press tries to hire a minority, candidates -- qualified or otherwise -- can be hard to find.

Still, I'll stand by the earlier point: It is, and should be, A priority. It is not right now THE priority.