Thriving in Journalism: Multicultural Stories from Wisconsin's Journalists

1. How to Thrive in J-School and Newsrooms: Wisconsin’s Multicultural Journalists Tell Their Stories A Diversity Fellows project by Mike Dorsher  Department of Communication & Journalism Wis. multicultural journalists are: They got where they are by: Conclusions • Help prepare for UWEC’s first “Journalism & Beyond Camp” for high school students • Launching in summer 2007 • Find out how Wisconsin’s multi- cultural newspaper journalists: • Chose a college to attend • Succeeded in college overall • Succeeded in journalism classes • Got newsroom jobs • Thrive in their newsroom • Feel about affirmative action • Recruit panelists for J&B Camp • Strengthen ties between the CJ Dept. and the state’s major newspapers … usually from cities in other states … having parents who read newspapers Most feel well-supported in their job … getting grants for college, not just loans Sources discriminate against them … mostly at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Method Project Goals • E-mailed and/or called every daily paper in Wis. for the names of all their multicultural journalists (N=62) • Contacted all those journalists and asked to interview them • I interviewed all who agreed (N=40) in their newsroom, in April-May 2006 • Used same 94 questions for everyone … working on campus newspapers Ambivalence about affirmative action … all races and colors “Quote ... … unquote” “I am what I am: I’m a Latino journalist. No one asks a white journalist, ‘Are you white first, or are you a journalist first?’ ” -- Ricardo Pimentel Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial page editor … and earning degrees in journalism No consensus on what to do next … and filling many newsroom roles “Some people think I was hired just because I’m Native American. I have to prove myself … more than other people.” -- Lisa Nellessen-Lara Stevens Point Journal managing editor