As @rebel19 says: If @WNYC is ‘America’s most listened-to public radio station’— "it’s unconscionable that our newsroom and the organization at large fails so miserably to reflect the racial makeup of America, but perhaps even more pointedly, that of New York City. In 2020.” https://twitter.com/tanzinavega/status/1279006800835219456

Those of you who love NPR, or more specifically who love the local @NPR member station through which you get your NPR programming, here's something you should know: these internal revolutions are happening in public radio newsrooms nationwide, likely at some of your faves.

It's damn time. Past time. The "commitment to diversity" lines have been the standard in public radio for years now, but where are the outcomes in hiring, in recruiting, in audience and in membership? Without tangible change, it's just really noisy lip service.

The fact that Black/Brown people and their allies at an organization like WNYC can say exactly what's needed and get the opposite is infuritating, not surprising. It's an industry-wide culture that results in a weak reflection of the public that *public radio* is meant to serve.

When so-called diversity is attempted, it's often through internship or training programs geared at entry-level journalists which LET ME BE CLEAR are extremely important. But it's also important to have experienced BIPOC journos, editors, on-air talent...

...development associates, community liaisons, IT/operations staff, sound engineers, etc. That's true diversity across the board. And I have seen it rarely in public radio. What we often have instead are full gaps or tokenism, most especially at the leadership level.

Oh and "diversity" sans a sincere effort at inclusion/equity is laughable anyway. What's the point of partnering with an HBCU or having a internship for minority journalists if their ideas are dismissed or they feel unwelcome? They'll have no incentive to stay.

This is an uncomfortable time for public radio. And it should be. Not only is listenership down as a result of the pandemic, leaders are being taken to task on addressing the ways their stations publicly message organizational values and standards. Some are listening.

Will they act? That's TBD. There's a pretty lame track record on true attention to diversity. But those who love/support their public radio stations -- stations that aren't often covered in the NYT -- can compare their own values against what they hear and see. You can act.

Does your public radio station accurately reflect the community you know? If the answer is no, there is work to do.