New Delhi, February 21: Ghanaian Canadian writer, broadcaster and academician ‘Nana aba Duncan’ shared her views with journalists and people from different walks of life about, “How inclusive newsrooms foster stronger reporting and supportive” on Monday at the press club of India in Delhi.
#equalitymatters in #newsroom: An interaction with #Canadian #journalist on #inclusive #Newsroom and being #journalist from #marginalised section.
Full story coming soon…@CanadainIndia pic.twitter.com/WUufo5CmCY— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) February 20, 2023
She emphasised on the importance of inclusivity in newsrooms to ensure that reporting is accurate, representative and reflective of diverse perspectives. She was in conversation with a journalist Sangeeta Baroah on the topic “Inclusive newsrooms: Improved reportage”.
Duncan, who was recently appointed Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies at Carleton University’s School of Journalism. From 2016 to 2020, She was the host of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s morning show Fresh Air. She shared her experience of producing human rights stories, helping establish the radio division of Journalists for Human Rights, apart from her work in the field of academics.
Nana Duncan spoke passionately about how crucial it is to empower women journalists and those who are supporting the marginalised communities.
She said inclusivity in newsrooms meant that people from different backgrounds, cultures, genders and identities were given equal opportunities to work in journalism and contribute to news coverage.
Duncan recalled how as a host of a national television show, her work was being recognised and she was getting more and more requests to host shows. And one afternoon, at a lunch, a friend casually remarked how she was getting these opportunities – because she was a woman and was black. “I was sad, angry, for my capabilities were overlooked, and at some point, it makes you doubt your capabilities.
So, this experience and many others in my career over 15 years, made me sensitive to inclusive, free media and equality for women in journalism. One thing that I ensured, when I was working with women, was to make sure that they were okay, be it addressing issues of race, sexual harassment at workplaces, gender pay gap, women not being offered top leadership positions in newsrooms,” said Duncan, who is also the executive director of the Media Girlfriends podcast company and network.
The award-winning journalist also shared how her podcast Media Girlfriends is very close to her heart, as the central theme of it is the experiences of women in media, their careers and personal lives.
Earlier to the conversation with Ghanaian-Canadian broadcaster Duncan, the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, Amanda Stroha also addressed the journalist and responded few questions.
“Canada has for a long had a thriving and a large Indian diaspora. We have 1.8 million people of Indian origin in Canada who have succeeded in all areas of our society and it remains a safe place and an inclusive place for people who live,” she said.
“No #newsroom in India is led by a professional from SC/ST community,” says acting high commissioner at Canadian high commission in India. @CanadainIndia @GAC_Corporate pic.twitter.com/EErz8Gth1r
— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) February 20, 2023
The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner also quoted one survey report published in India, which says there are none at leading position in newsroom from marginalised community in India.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
