Occupational Activism of Outsiders within: How Journalists of Color Work Toward a More Expansive News Ecosystem

Abstract

This article examines the storytelling values, critiques, and practices of journalists of color in public radio, a historically white dominant industry. I draw on 83 interviews with people of color employed in public radio to analyze their stated values and how they use their position to disrupt the white racial frame that shapes the industry's genre in accordance with said values. Interviewees highlighted a commitment to make more stories that would resonate with their communities of origin; further, they expressed a commitment to exposing existing, majority-white public radio listeners to a more diverse set of news stories through their storytelling. Their “outsider within” status leads public radio employes of color to recognize the white racial frame of public radio storytelling and organizational resistance to change. Given the mismatch between their values and the organization's white racial frame, public radio employes of color engage in values-centered occupational activism. Specifically, they find newsroom allies, reframe stories to make it through the white racial frame, and in some cases, directly challenge authorities to ensure a more diverse set of news stories make it on air. This form of values-centered occupational activism promotes a more expansive and diverse news ecosystem, both in newsroom culture and in the broader public sphere.