This editorial board historically has criticized many clubs and organizations for lacking diversity and inclusion. Now, it is our turn to be self-critical.
The Daily Tar Heel is committed to transparency and to providing educational opportunities for as many people as possible. As it stands, this newspaper is not fostering a culture encouraging cultural, economic and intellectual diversity within our walls on Rosemary Street.
The current leadership at this paper is overwhelmingly white, liberal, cisgender and able-bodied. It was a problem that we addressed at the annual DTH Editors' Retreat.
Even on this editorial board, the current editor is (and a majority of his predecessors have been) white, middle-class, liberal and male. Some editorial board members have jokingly called the opinion desk a “boys' club.” And they are right.
The DTH prides itself on thorough UNC and Chapel Hill coverage, but objectivity is a noble aspiration — one we wish to uphold, but often do not achieve in our reporting.
This paper often gives its readers a lively representation of the campus left and we have a colorful array of views to draw from. But diversity for the sake of diversity does not always translate to ideas representative of the entire ideological spectrum.
Too often in journalism, news outlets isolate themselves from conflicting perspectives. While it is worthwhile to maintain a political angle for a certain reader market, social progress necessitates a healthy discourse between opposing parties.
Diversity of color and creed is unspeakably important. The perspectives gained through the different experiences and background make our writing and staff culture all the better. But diversity in identities is not our only issue.
What the DTH, and UNC for that matter, needs is a diversity of ideology accompanied by an environment where we are encouraged to respectfully challenge each other’s views so that we may grow as communal citizens.
