Black reporters say the UK media is ‘in denial’ about racism



Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, said in a statement earlier this week that it was “untrue” that sections of the UK press were radical or racist.
Murray was responding to remarks made by Prince Harry during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in which he said racism played a role in how the British press covered his wife Meghan, and tabloid coverage was a key factor in the couple’s decision to leave the country.
In a letter posted online, color journalists, including The Guardian and Condo Nast, urged the Society’s editors to address radicalism and racism in the UK’s media coverage, instead pretending it did not exist.

Murray’s insistence that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex provide no “supporting evidence” to support the claim of racist coverage showed “intentional ignorance” about the discriminatory treatment of Meghan by the British press, as well as others who do not know her. White, according to the letter.

“We strongly condemn and reject the statement issued by the Society of Editors, edited by the Society of Editors, denouncing the existence of racism and bigotry in the UK press, by journalists who understand color, working in UK media organizations.” Journalists wrote.

“The blanket of admitting to being a fanatic in the British press is ridiculous, ignoring journalists of color and showing an organization and denial,” they added.

Letter Several citations were cited to support their claims, including a 2016 report by the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance, which found that hate speech among traditional UK media, especially tabloid newspapers, is “a serious problem” and fuel bias.
Compelling evidence can also be found in the headlines run by the major tabloids. One Mail head online headline revealed in 2016 that Meghan was “(almost) directly Compton.” At the same time, the Daily Star ran a headline asking if Harry would “marry in gangster royalty?”

On Wednesday, the Society of Editors issued what it described as “clarification”.

“Our statements about Meghan and Harry … do not reflect what we all know: there is still a lot of work to be done in the media to improve diversity and inclusion. The body, which runs the prestigious annual press awards, said in a statement. He will refuse to answer questions or clarify whether he is still by his previous comment.

One reason the cloud is the victim of racist UK coverage: the media is not diverse
But the damage has been done. ITV News Anchor Charlene White On wednesday Leave as host of press awards. In a letter first reported by HuffPost UK, White told the Society’s Editors-in-Chief that he “wanted somewhere else” for the host.

“Maybe someone whose views compare to yours: the UK Press is the only organization in the whole country that has a complete record on gender,” he added.

The editors of The Guardian and Financial Times newspapers have also disputed the original statement from the Society of Editors.

Raula Khalaf, editor of the FT, said in a statement that the UK has to work in all areas to call for and challenge racism. He added, “The media has a crucial role to play, and editors must ensure that our newsrooms and coverage reflect the society we are embracing.”

“Every organization in the United Kingdom is currently examining its own position on important issues of race and treatment of people of color. As I have said before, the media must do the same. It must be more representative and more self-aware,” the Guardian editor-in-chief said. -Chief Catherine Winner added.

Rich plc, which publishes the Mirror, Express and Daily Star, declined to comment on the Society Edit f editors’ statement. CNN Business has contacted News Mail, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Sun, for comment. Harry and Meghan said last April that they would no longer be joining the major tabloids and have sued some newspapers.

Facing a lack of diversity

The British press remains extremely white compared to the overall ethnic and racial makeup of the United Kingdom.

A 2016 report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that only 6% of journalists in UK newsrooms are not referred to as white, compared to around 13% of the general population. A similar study found that black Britons make up 3% of the population, while they make up only 0.2.5% of journalists.

And according to a Reuters Institute report last July, none of Britain’s top 10 print, digital or broadcast outlets have a black editor-in-chief.

“Society Edit f editors should use the comments made by Sussex to start an open and constructive discussion about the best way to prevent racist shields in the future, especially by addressing the lack of representation at the senior level,” the color journalists letter said.

“While many industries and companies are engaged in race counting in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protest, we believe the Society Edit f Editors’ time will be better used to reflect the lack of diversity.” He added.

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