Realizing that people may not know this: if you’re a reporter with a mainstream publication, posting a political opinion publicly can result in you LOSING YOUR ENTIRE JOB. This is especially true for Black, brown, trans, queer, and young journalists.

It is very common for older, wealthier, whiter editors or contributors to be allowed to write opinion pieces while younger/BIPOC reporters are required to stick to “objectivity” even when that means denying their own personhood.

So if you hate those policies (I do!) or disagree with an editorial choice made by people with institutional power, please take it up with the people in power, rather than the reporters already facing racism and discrimination at their workplaces.

Have you noticed that Sergio doesn’t ever post his political opinions? It’s not because he doesn’t have thoughts. It’s because he works for OPB and the NYT.

You know why I DO NOT have those bylines? It’s in part because I have opinions sometimes.

I still watch what I say but I don’t keep my mouth shut enough to work for mainstream news. I made a big career sacrifice to be a bratty fire sign on Twitter. Other people can’t afford that privilege. Keep in mind what you’re asking of people.

One more thing

Black/Indigenous/POC/trans reporters can’t just quit and find a better job elsewhere because virtually all newsrooms have a white supremacy problem and aso there are no journalism jobs lol.

So again, keep in mind what you’re asking of people.

It’s very probable that they’re fighting very hard for change internally. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. It’s just very very hard for young marginalized reporters to magically fix the white supremacy of their superiors.