Media: a richer vision

Some newspapers are beginning to respond to the "wake up call" from The Chronicle, Black journalists and concerned individuals to end racism in the media.

"The Sun doesn't tolerate racism," thunders editor David Yelland, but has few black staff to show off.

We have an "open door policy" says Ian Mayes, readers' editor of The Guardian, but still has to determine how to respond to staff cynicism.

George Brock, managing editor of The Times says with some pride that the first person interviewed for his paper's 1999 graduate scheme was an Asian.

Modest steps will be taken by The Guardian and The Sun to each recruit and mentor a young person from minority ethnic background for a period of work experience at management level.

But the editors, managers and owners still don't get the point. The key issue of our time is changing the image and increasing the employment of black and ethnic minorities in western media.

There is a hollow core in their belated recognition of "a problem". And the overall impact of their schemes is likely to be small.

Journalists and editors, teachers and students, and media consumers seem only dimly aware of the public policy implications.

• Our voices have not been sufficiently heard in coverage of race issues in general, and the Stephen Lawrence murder.
• Institutional racism has not been addressed.
• The race" language used in stories is insensitive to black people's self-perceptions.
• A specialist race relations correspondent should be appointed, fresh Black and Asian should be recruited at all levels; and the positive aspects of black culture should be projected

These issues are in part professional and educational. But at root they are institutional and political.

• Abolishing discriminatory job practices, recruitment and training policies, and career development
• Recognising the needs and rights of minority publics for non-biased coverage
• Democratising the media and promoting minority advancement.

The Chronicle offers a forum to debate these issues. Your views are welcome.

Click below to see these linked features

• Revealed: How UK media fuelled race prejudice
  Decades-old essay by Britain's best known sociologist gives vital clues

• Media Trust and Black journalists urge
  positive media response to Lawrence inquiry report