When will a diversity policy in journalism schools? – release
How, at 20, think a more desirable future with lightness and joy? How to trust the future without giving up? For its second edition, the Festival Place a Tomorrow moved to Paris, at the Palais de la Porte Dorée, on Saturday June 14.
In the editorial rooms as on TV sets, France which is expressed is still too often white, graduated, Parisian, valid, hetero. The lack of diversity in the media is glaring. In 2023, According to Archonly 15 % of people perceived as non -white appeared on television. Women are under-represented among the guest experts, people with invisible disabilities, journalists openly LGBTQIA + remain rare. To change this, you have to act at the root: in journalism schools. Because most journalists come from it.
Diversity in the media is not limited to a question of representation. It makes it possible to expand looks, to better understand the complexity of social issues, to ask questions that others would not ask. It guarantees fairer, more complete information, closer to reality. It is not a question of adding a « diversity surety » to give yourself a good conscience, but of recognizing the added value that represents a journalist from a minority, by his experience, his references, his sensitivity, his networks.
Journalism is one of the most endogamous professions in France. As early as 2004, a study by Géraud Lafarge and Dominique Marchetti revealed that students in journalism schools were overwhelmingly from the middle and upper classes. This social homogeneity continues. Data on racialized students, LGBTQIA + or with disabilities are rare, for lack of ethnic statistics or institutional surveys. But the testimonies agree: the self is the norm. Women represent 48 % of the press card holders, but only 20 % of them occupy management positions. According to Arcom, they constitute only 40 % of people visible on television.
Certainly, some devices have emerged. ESJ Lille, in partnership with the Bondy Blog, offers equal opportunities for scholarship students. The Association La Chance trains dozens of precarious students each year at the competitions of recognized schools. Radio France has signed partnerships with Mozaïk HR to recruit more work -study students from social diversity. But these initiatives remain too few, too punctual, and are often based on the commitment of some individuals. In France, there is no national diversity policy in journalism schools.
However, the tracks exist: public funding for prepas equal opportunities, reform of competitions, collection of data on the social and racial composition of promotions, strengthening social aid … It is also essential to train teachers to deal with rigor, sensitivity and without prejudice of violence against women, identity questions, racial discrimination, realities of disability, migrations, as well as Social precariousness. Female is not a passionate crime, not all migrants are refugees, and an Arab is not necessarily Muslim. Without that, we perpetuate stereotypes instead of informing.
If journalism schools do not open the doors to all the young people in this country, then the media will continue to tell a partial, incomplete, biased France. It is no longer a question only of alerting, but of acting. You, school directorates and training managers, are responsible for reducing barriers to entry, diversifying your juries and training your teams with diversity challenges. And you, public authorities, must support a real national policy by providing establishments with the necessary means. It is only at this price that the media will finally be able to reflect all the votes of society.
